Good books for self research

[MedicineNewb]

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Hello guys and girls, I would like to take some time to carry out some self research! I am not in medical school yet, and I know that I must make sure to keep my options broad. I feel that the best way to understand what field would most interest me, is to do as much self research about human anatomy as possible. I own "Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary", and a very general anatomy book called "The Human Body Book" written by Robert Winston, Steve Parker, and many more. I have read The Human Body Book many times over, and used it as reference when doing self research along with other school work. It is not a very descriptive book due to the generality of the subject itself. I would like to step up the reading level if you will, and settle down with a few more solidly written anatomy books. Just a few good anatomy books that would better accommodate my intelligence and knowledge of the human body. One subject I would like to learn more about is the CNS. More specifically, the physiological brain.

This is no profession to me, more a hobby. I am very sure that I will go into surgery. Given this information, would any of you like to please guide me in the right direction? I always love to be one step ahead of things.

"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education." - Mark Twain
*Note - the above quote is to be interpreted loosely, school is extremely important *

 

[Buzz Me]

As this topic addresses which anatomy books may be appropriate for pre-meds prior to med school, will move this thread to Pre-Allo.

 

[MedicineNewb]

Whoops triple post. Also having a problem deleting them.

 

[MedicineNewb]

Whoops triple post. Also having a problem deleting them.

 

[MedicineNewb]

Thank you for that sir, I am sure to get more replies now 😉

It sure is a mighty big website to find the right place to post in 🙄

 

[icalz]

Hello guys and girls, I would like to take some time to carry out some self research! I am not in medical school yet, and I know that I must make sure to keep my options broad. I feel that the best way to understand what field would most interest me, is to do as much self research about human anatomy as possible. I own "Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary", and a very general anatomy book called "The Human Body Book" written by Robert Winston, Steve Parker, and many more. I have read The Human Body Book many times over, and used it as reference when doing self research along with other school work. It is not a very descriptive book due to the generality of the subject itself. I would like to step up the reading level if you will, and settle down with a few more solidly written anatomy books. Just a few good anatomy books that would better accommodate my intelligence and knowledge of the human body. One subject I would like to learn more about is the CNS. More specifically, the physiological brain.

This is no profession to me, more a hobby. I am very sure that I will go into surgery. Given this information, would any of you like to please guide me in the right direction? I always love to be one step ahead of things.

"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education." - Mark Twain
*Note - the above quote is to be interpreted loosely, school is extremely important *

If you're going into surgery then you are going to need to know your anatomy inside and out (no pun intended). I would recommend anything from the Netter's family (books, flashcards, etc...). You'll have to learn all the bones (skeletal system), all the blood vessels (veins and arteries, and not just the major ones) along with the structure of a vessel, all of the nerves (where they originate and what they innervate), all of the muscles including where they originate and where they insert (also their action: flexion, extension, depression, etc...); you'll need to know the finer structures of each organ and what cells are work within the tissues, and you'll need to know the functions and components of organ systems such as the Endocrine system with all of its hormones and secretions. It may all seem overwhelming at first but if you take small bites you'll get it all down.

 

[apumic]

Might I suggest a hobby, one not medically-related, for the time being. The truth is that nothing you study now is going to make any real difference when you get to med school (or beyond) in terms of knowing the sciences. What will, from what I can gather from physicians and med students, make a difference are the skills outside medicine that you develop, as they can broaden your ability to relate to patients as well as make you a more interesting person, help to keep you from burning out later as a physician (by enabling healthy boundaries in your life), and so forth.

 

[MedicineNewb]

If you're going into surgery then you are going to need to know your anatomy inside and out (no pun intended). I would recommend anything from the Netter's family (books, flashcards, etc...). You'll have to learn all the bones (skeletal system), all the blood vessels (veins and arteries, and not just the major ones) along with the structure of a vessel, all of the nerves (where they originate and what they innervate), all of the muscles including where they originate and where they insert (also their action: flexion, extension, depression, etc...); you'll need to know the finer structures of each organ and what cells are work within the tissues, and you'll need to know the functions and components of organ systems such as the Endocrine system with all of its hormones and secretions. It may all seem overwhelming at first but if you take small bites you'll get it all down.

I will check into the Netter's family product line 🙂. I am currently still memorizing all of the bones, veins, nerves, organs, muscles... I did not take any high school anatomy courses, only the sciences in which NYS required. I took Earth Science, Biology, and Chemistry in that order respectively. We brushed into anatomy for a while in biology, but I would need something more suited to my level of interest. That is when I bought "The Human Body Book". It goes over all of the basics in great depth, and there are amazing pictures. Not the best writing though, in my humble opinion. I really enjoyed reading it and I am still going through it in my spare time to make sure I don't forget it. Not too overwhelming at all, especially since it will be fresh in my mind by the time that the others will be learning it / touching up on it. Thanks man!

Might I suggest a hobby, one not medically-related, for the time being. The truth is that nothing you study now is going to make any real difference when you get to med school (or beyond) in terms of knowing the sciences. What will, from what I can gather from physicians and med students, make a difference are the skills outside medicine that you develop, as they can broaden your ability to relate to patients as well as make you a more interesting person, help to keep you from burning out later as a physician (by enabling healthy boundaries in your life), and so forth.

Thanks for the advise man, and yeah I can see how you would have thought that I didn't get out much by the way that I had worded my original post. I do, however, like to think that I have better than average people skills . I learn more and more about psychology every day,and I am impressed at how much it can effect life.

I also did not say that it is my only hobby. I have many other hobbies, but with me not currently going to school I am at an intellectual void...and I am quickly loosing brain mass 😱 Quick, give me something to read!

 

[MSSM2013]

get netter's atlas but please do not memorize.

 

[Compass]

I've used this before, or at least the biology variant:

http://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-Coloring-Book-Wynn-Kapit/dp/0805350861

 

[summerallwinter]

A big thumbs up to the Anatomy Coloring Book. I picked it up at Half Priced Books for about $5, only one of the pages was colored (the first) and it was in great condition.

Two good books that are fairly easy reads and both contrast evolution with clinical research is Survival of the Sickest, and Why We Get Sick. The latter is better written and more informative but the first is an easier read and more interesting subject matter.

The Language of Medicine is a great overall book with some good terminology.

Clinical Biochemistry Made Ridiculously Simple is great if you haven't taken a biochem course yet.

Clinical Pathophysiology Made Ridiculously Simple is another great one though it's a fairly hard read.

I haven't picked it up yet but I hear Netter's Anatomy is a must for any med student.

I have Complications by Gawande in the mail from Amazon as we speak. I hear it's a great book. Basically a book by a surgical resident about what it's like being a surgeon, it got lots of amazing reviews and was actually recommended to me by a PA.

 

[MedicineNewb]

get netter's atlas but please do not memorize.

Please elaborate...I have an anatomy book about one tier below Netter's. I took a look at Netter's and bought it immediately! Why shouldn't I memorize it? (Can I at least read it through and memorize the interesting things that I will be using later?)

I've used this before, or at least the biology variant:

http://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-Coloring-Book-Wynn-Kapit/dp/0805350861

I like it, but it looks a little bit less informative than my current. That Netter's Atlas looks perfect to suit my needs. Thank you very much for your help though.

A big thumbs up to the Anatomy Coloring Book. I picked it up at Half Priced Books for about $5, only one of the pages was colored (the first) and it was in great condition.

Two good books that are fairly easy reads and both contrast evolution with clinical research is Survival of the Sickest, and Why We Get Sick. The latter is better written and more informative but the first is an easier read and more interesting subject matter.

The Language of Medicine is a great overall book with some good terminology.

Clinical Biochemistry Made Ridiculously Simple is great if you haven't taken a biochem course yet.

Clinical Pathophysiology Made Ridiculously Simple is another great one though it's a fairly hard read.

I haven't picked it up yet but I hear Netter's Anatomy is a must for any med student.

I have Complications by Gawande in the mail from Amazon as we speak. I hear it's a great book. Basically a book by a surgical resident about what it's like being a surgeon, it got lots of amazing reviews and was actually recommended to me by a PA.

I checked out "Survival of the Sickest" and "Why We Get Sick" - they look interesting but I'm looking for more hardcore facts and anatomical displays. I actually wrote them both down on my wishlist anyways to read at a later date because they looked very interesting!

"The Language of Medicine" - The description says that it includes things like student quizzes and learning activities. Sounds good and all, but is this just an interactive medical dictionary? I have a very nice one that doesn't have any extra activities, but it has a lot of terms. Have you heard of "Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary"? Would this work as a substitute?

As for stories about actual surgery - I have ordered "When the Air Hits Your Brain: Tales from Neurosurgery" written by Frank T. Vertosick.

THANKS GUYS!!!