Books...

[Dr. Geoff]

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Want to do some reading this summer, any recomendations? I'm looking for books that have to do with Biology or Medicine, something of that nature, thanks.

Jeff

 

[oldman]

You should read, "Making of a Surgeon" by Dr. Nolan. It gives a frank depiction of surgical residency as he experienced it.

 

[deva]

You should definitely read "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down" by Anne Fadiman. I think all doctors should read it.

 

[vyc]

The Physician
i can't remember the author... i think it might be something like Noah Gordon?

 

[Cerberus]

I just read "The House of God" by Samuel Shem, it paints a pretty bleak picture of residency but is a pretty good read - tho the main character seems neurotic from the get go.

I am currently reading "Becoming a Doctor" by Melvin Konner (i think thats his name). This is a really good book that goes covers a med students life through the clinical years. So far it is an excellent read and seems to paint a pretty good picture of med school.

 

[Cdc28p]

You might also want to check out Pamela Grim's Just Here Trying to Save a Few Lives. A touching yet not cheesy book with a simple, powerful style.

Don't waste your time on Marion's Learning to Play God. This is simply a compilation of grammatically correct, arrogantly complex, superficially constructed, and utterly boring sentences. I haven't read his other books, but if he uses the same style, I'll definitely stay clear from them.

 

[SMW]

Anything by Oliver Sacks.

 

[Crazy Carl]

So many...but here's an abbreviated list of my faves:

S. Nuland - especially How We Die
When the Air Hits Your Brain - Vertosick
a lighthearted account of neurosurgery
Social Transformation of American Medicine - Starr
more of a textbook, but very interesting

Enjoy!

 

[brickmanli]

Time to Heal by Kenneth Ludmerer an examination of medical school education during the last century.

Second Opinions and Measure of Our Days by Jerome Groopman, very poignant stories, make for good beach reading

Not an Entirely Benign Procedure and Baby Doctor by Perri Klass

Harvard Med by John Langone

Becoming a Doctor by Melvin Konner, a must read

First Do No Harm by Lisa Belkin

Learning to Play God by Robert Marion

Doctor Stories by William Carlos Williams, the famous poet-doctor

Human Embryonic Stem Cell Debate Edited Suzanne Holland

Human Cloning Debate by Glenn Mcgee

 

[sendwich]

Mean Genes by Dr. Phelan

 

[The Fly]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Dr. Geoff:
•Want to do some reading this summer, any recomendations? I'm looking for books that have to do with Biology or Medicine, something of that nature, thanks. Jeff•••••Hmmm. Dr. Geoff but signed Jeff. . . what gives??
(I'm a geoff by the way!)

As far as books. . .

Infections and Inequalities: by Paul Farmer

Complications: by Atul Gawande

The latter of which is an amazing book about medicine and although he's a surgeon, it's equally applicable to medicine. It came out earlier this year, so it's completely up-to-date, unlike a lot of the other popular books (e.g. House of God, which is horribly outdated). Gawande is on the staff of the New Yorker and as such, has an amazing capacity to convey his experiences -- it received great reviews from the NYT, and other prestigious newspapers.

I highly recommend both -- the former is more political, but will definitely change your conceptions of the delivery of care and how it differs across the world.

 

[Tweetie_bird]

Doctors - by S. Nuland.

Any of Nuland's books are good. You will learn so much about medical history and appreciate the profession so much more after you read this....I absolutely recommend this.

 

[FrostWeasel]

Bag Balm & Duct Tape: Tales of a Vermont Doctor
by Beach Conger

The Lost Art of Healing: Practicing Compassion in Medicine
by Bernard Lown

Letters to a Young Doctor
by Richard Selzer

Good reads all!

 

[Mr.D]

1."The Mismeasure of Man" by Stephen J. Gould (passed away recently).

2."The Selfish Gene" and "The Blind Watchmaker" by Richard Dawkins.

 

[wgu]

Becoming A Doctor by Melvin Konner

Healing Lessons by Sidney Winawer

Both are MD's

Less related is 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Covey, a Harvard MBA