Great Book Recommendation

[DarthBroosevelt]

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I'm reading the book "Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance" by Atul Gawande. The book touches on many issues that I think many of us pre-medical students glaze over, though they are becoming increasingly relevant in today's medical society. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who has some free time on their hands (haha). I've also ordered his book, "Complications: A Surgeon's Notes of an Imperfect Science". I've heard it is an incredible book, but can't speak for it personally.

Anyway! The book has been a great read and makes you think a lot about different topics from the point in fighting a seemingly impossible battle against eradicating deadly viruses to the fine details of every doctor's nightmare, malpractice, and how it can actually be a necessary part of the medical field. If you need a book to read, start with 'Better'!

 

[Chocolate Bear]

Thanks for the recommendation! This wouldn't be a bad place for others to post their recommendations for other pre meds/med students! 🙂

 

[raebear]

Complications is an amazing book!!! I'm definitely going to have to check out Better. Thanks for the recommendation!

 

[MSUSpartan642]

Just found Complications on Amazon for $1.22! Sweet Ill take that. Hopefully it is as good as you all say. 😀

 

[dudechiefboss]

If you haven't already:

House of God

Should be a medical school requirement.

 

[rmj254]

Hot Lights, Cold Steel -- Michael Collins
Just In Here Trying to Save a Few Lives: Tales from the ER -- Pamela Grimm
Intern Blues -- Robert Marion
Cutting Remarks -- Sidney M. Schwab
How Doctors Think -- Jerome Groopman

+100,000 to House of God. If you haven't read this one, go read it right now.

 

[ndickson]

+1 to "Better." Great book! I'm going to order a few of these, keep the suggestions coming!

I personally didn't enjoy "how doctor's think" that much. It reminded me of a Malcolm Caldwell book (is that the guy I'm thinking of? Who wrote the tipping point / blink?) It seemed like he had about two chapters worth of material, and stretched it out with example after example of the same small amount of information. Didn't hold my attention.

 

[jkmph]

And the Band Played On... it's about the first few years of the emerging HIV epidemic. It's an incredibly great book.

 

[Grey Wind]

The Dressing Station by Dr. Jonathan Kaplan

He is a South African surgeon who goes into warzones and hotspots around the globe. Amazing book.

 

[Melicopter]

Mountains Beyond Mountains, by Tracy Kidder

 

[scummie]

And let's not forget "The DOs: Osteopathic Medicine in America" by Norman Gevitz!

 

[da Vincis World]

I'm reading the book "Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance" by Atul Gawande. The book touches on many issues that I think many of us pre-medical students glaze over, though they are becoming increasingly relevant in today's medical society. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who has some free time on their hands (haha). I've also ordered his book, "Complications: A Surgeon's Notes of an Imperfect Science". I've heard it is an incredible book, but can't speak for it personally.

Anyway! The book has been a great read and makes you think a lot about different topics from the point in fighting a seemingly impossible battle against eradicating deadly viruses to the fine details of every doctor's nightmare, malpractice, and how it can actually be a necessary part of the medical field. If you need a book to read, start with 'Better'!

👍 Both "Better" and "Complications" are great books...Atul Gawande is an excellent writer.

 

[da Vincis World]

Another great read, especially for those of you going the millitary route, is On Call in Hell: A Doctor's Iraq War Story by Dr. Richard Jadick, DO. Yes, he's a DO.👍

 

[TopQuark]

Beat the Reaper - Josh Bazell
A quick entertaining read, about a mob hitman turned doctor working the worst hospital in NY. Pretty dark and twisted at times, but I like that.

 

[missDO]

Just ordered House of God...I've heard nothing but excellent reviews of it so I am really anxious to read it. I second "How Doctors Think"...halfway through it now and I am thoroughly enjoying it.

"Med School Confidential" by Robert H. Miller and Daniel M. Bissell...this one takes you from step 1 of the premed process all the way through your residency years. It's one you can refer back to throughout the course of your journey to your degree and then some. It's motivating and clarifying...I really think it's a great read for any pre-med or soon-to-be (or even current) medical student. Happy reading 🙂

 

[nali1]

has anyone read "Routine Miracles" by Dr. Conrad Fischer?

 

[OBK]

house of god was great - too bad it was essentially a break up gift from my now ex girlfriend as she began her intern year - talk about dramatic effect

complications has also been mentioned

in the process of reading "body of work: meditations on mortality from the human anatomy lab"

started out slow but picked up quickly enough

 

[iatros]

H.O.G for sure

i thought How Doctors Think wasnt all too captivating

also on the required reading list: The Difference a DO Makes by Bob Jones...ESPECIALLY if you are applying to OSU

 

[Shinobiz11]

Gifted Hands by Ben Carson- TRULY AMAZING AND INSPIRING!

 

[tndoc12]

Gifted Hands by Ben Carson- TRULY AMAZING AND INSPIRING!

I absolutely loved this book! One of my ALL TIME favorites. I also enjoyed "The Difference a DO makes."

 

[kbrinsky1]

H.O.G for sure

i thought How Doctors Think wasnt all too captivating

also on the required reading list: The Difference a DO Makes by Bob Jones...ESPECIALLY if you are applying to OSU

I agree about How Doctors Think. The Guwande books are great. I also really loved Kitchen Table Wisdom, by Rachel Remen. I don't know if anyone said this by The Medical School Interview has helped me so much with interviews. Another book that's helpful for those ethical q's and in general is The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. Happy Reading 🙂

 

[DarthBroosevelt]

Thanks for all the great feedback guys! I finished Better today by Gawande and I'm ready to get started on Complications now! I'll be sure to check out the books you've mentioned, especially House of God. Thanks everyone and keep them coming!

 

[GraceEuphoria]

Mountains Beyond Mountains, by Tracy Kidder

Yes yes yes yes. This book is so great. If you have a passion for eventually working in underserved populations both here and abroad, this man will inspire you to do it no doubt.

I'm glad other people read these types of books as obsessively as I do...I like to think of them as inspiration during the application process 🙂

 

[Lewist02]

Final Exam by Pauline Cheng was an AMAZING book. She reflects back on how she envisioned a career of saving lives and didn't realize how much death would be a part of her career. She offers insight as to how the medical field should find a way to be less dehumanizing. This book was a national best seller.

 

[GraceEuphoria]

Final Exam by Pauline Cheng was an AMAZING book. She reflects back on how she envisioned a career of saving lives and didn't realize how much death would be a part of her career. She offers insight as to how the medical field should find a way to be less dehumanizing. This book was a national best seller.

Haha, funny you should mention it. I am just finishing that one up. I wasn't lying when I said I am neurotic about reading these books right now...mildly embarassing

 

[starrynite14]

"The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down"

It talks about the problems with medicine and culture (specifically Hmong culture). It's an amazing read.

 

[beckhunter116]

Any recommendations for books on health care reform?

 

[Kramerica]

Any recommendations for books on health care reform?

I liked Who Killed Health Care? by Regina Herzlinger. It prepared me a lot of my interviews (namely @ Nova where they asked "What would you change about the health care system not counting tort reform?") and the book was interesting.

Be aware though that the book does advocate consumer-driven health care and the author is definitely libertarian.

 

[kbrinsky1]

Any recommendations for books on health care reform?

In college I took a class called Clinical Health Care and lately the kind of text book of the class was Understanding Health Policy, A clinical Approach. The edition I have is the 4th, but they probably have a new edition by now. Regardless, it has helped me so much during the interview cycle understand health care policies and reform strategies.

Also this article http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200909/health-care
in the Atlantic was helpful for current debates...some of it kind of pissed me off, but it was good because it gave me talking points at interviews. Hope this is helpful!

 

[rmj254]

When the Air Hits Your Brain -- Frank Vertosick

 

[divajazzerina]

+1 Better AND Complicaitons by Atul Gawande
+1 The D.O's, by Norman Gevitz
+1 Final Exam by Pauline Chen
+1 And the Band Played On

Stiff by Mary Roach
White Coat by Ellen Rothman
How we Die by Sherwin Noland

 

[divajazzerina]

I'm glad other people read these types of books as obsessively as I do...I like to think of them as inspiration during the application process 🙂

Completely agree!😀

 

[LeVar Burton]

Now, I know that many of us have wondered, what exactly is a DO? Well, Bob Jones in "The Difference a DO Makes" gives us a history and an overview of Osteopathic Medicine. It is a short, easy read that every Pre-DO should read before going into their medical interview. He writes about how Osteopathic medicine got its start, how osteopathic medicine is crucial for today's world, and the basic principles behind osteopathic medicine. I greatly enjoyed this book, and I know that each of you will too. See you next time.

 

[JaggerPlate]

+1 Better AND Complicaitons by Atul Gawande
+1 The D.O's, by Norman Gevitz
+1 Final Exam by Pauline Chen
+1 And the Band Played On

Stiff by Mary Roach
White Coat by Ellen Rothman
How we Die by Sherwin Noland

Like 5 people have told me to read stiff now ... I should probably check it out.

 

[JaggerPlate]

Now, I know that many of us have wondered, what exactly is a DO? Well, Bob Jones in "The Difference a DO Makes" gives us a history and an overview of Osteopathic Medicine. It is a short, easy read that every Pre-DO should read before going into their medical interview. He writes about how Osteopathic medicine got its start, how osteopathic medicine is crucial for today's world, and the basic principles behind osteopathic medicine. I greatly enjoyed this book, and I know that each of you will too. See you next time.

Best SDN screen name I have seen in a while.

 

[GraceEuphoria]

Like 5 people have told me to read stiff now ... I should probably check it out.

Stiff is really good and so is one of her other books, First Cut, about anatomy lab.

 

[divajazzerina]

Stiff is really good and so is one of her other books, First Cut, about anatomy lab.

OOOoooo I haven't read First Cut, but I'm going to now! I did read her other books- Spook was okay, defiantly not terrific. And I got partially through Bonk before I put it down because it was kind of bad.

 

[genegirl]

For anyone research minded, or science obsessed like myself, Hot Zone is excellent. It chronicles the Ebola virus from Marburg to Restin, Va.

 

[antapolar]

has anyone read "Routine Miracles" by Dr. Conrad Fischer?

Yeah just bought it a while ago, only about half way done. So far its not bad, he basically present case by case of the different medical advancements that happened in various medical departments, and back it up with ppl's personal stories. At time, it can be a bit religious for me. I am definitely not reading it at the pace i was reading "Complication." so your call 😉

 

[Nicbmann]

For anyone research minded, or science obsessed like myself, Hot Zone is excellent. It chronicles the Ebola virus from Marburg to Restin, Va.

One that is similar to this is "The Great Influenza". It is really long and gets dry at the end but has a very interesting beginning about the historical start of medicine in general.

 

[Daedra22]

"Genetic Rounds" is a really good book, by the same guy who wrote "Intern Blues." It's especially interesting if you have any interest in genetics. ^.^

 

[Caesar]

In college I took a class called Clinical Health Care and lately the kind of text book of the class was Understanding Health Policy, A clinical Approach. The edition I have is the 4th, but they probably have a new edition by now. Regardless, it has helped me so much during the interview cycle understand health care policies and reform strategies.

Also this article http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200909/health-care
in the Atlantic was helpful for current debates...some of it kind of pissed me off, but it was good because it gave me talking points at interviews. Hope this is helpful!

I've heard Daschle's book is pretty good, but I haven't read it. It's called "Critical" or something similar.

In terms of other books I have read and would recommend: Language of God by Francis S. Collins M.D. PhD. He is the current director of the NIH and was the head of the Human Genome Project in the 90s.