Non-medical books that have changed your life?

[SandP]

I'm talking about books that have made you a better doctor/med student by giving you perspective, helping you improve yourself, and imparting wisdom. Maybe it was a book that taught you how to think. Or a book that taught you how to communicate more effectively. Or maybe it was a piece of fiction that shed light on the complexity of humanity. Which books for you were life altering?

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[GrignardsReagent]

I'm talking about books that have made you a better doctor/med student by giving you perspective, helping you improve yourself, and imparting wisdom. Maybe it was a book that taught you how to think. Or a book that taught you how to communicate more effectively. Or maybe it was a piece of fiction that shed light on the complexity of humanity. Which books for you were life altering?

Road Less Traveled by Dr. M. Scott Peck.

Life changing for me. Also moved up psychiatry on my list as well.

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[You shall know the Truth]

The Bible is the most important to me. It contains every criteria you mentioned and much more. Read the proverbs if you are looking for wisdom.

 

[TheIllusionist]

Starting Strength

 

[RunawayGrape]

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

 

[NickNaylor]

Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius (old school)

 

[libertyyne]

I don't know about change my life, modified my world view is probably more accurate description.

Genghis Khan and the making of the modern world
Thinking fast and slow
The big short
Capital in the 21st century
The black swan


The idiot
The trial
The stranger
Brave New world
1984
Animal farm
Candide

 

[VincentAdultman]

How to Win Friends and Influence People

 

[Atom612]

I'm not sure how strict you are about your "non-medical" criteria, but I recommend "When Breath Becomes Air" by Dr. Paul Kalanithi. Even though it's written by a neurosurgeon, it's less about medicine and more about appreciating life and coming to grips with your mortality.

 

[OrthoTraumaMD]

"The subtle art of not giving a f**k" by Mark Manson


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[Ho0v-man]

How math explains the world.

All things are math. Seriously.

 

[jcorpsmanMD]

Tough call. either the Bluejacket’s manual or UCMJ, both are a good read

 

[814965]

Atlas Shrugged - Rand
1984 - Orwell
The Prince - Machiavelli
How to Win Friends and Influence People - Carnegie
Bismarck: A Life - Steinberg
Napoleon - Cronin
Candide - Voltair
Things Fall Apart - Achebe

 

[akuko2]

Tough call. either the Bluejacket’s manual or UCMJ, both are a good read

Yeah man, once I found out I had the authority to, 'quell quarrels, frays and disorders' the power went to my head.

 

[Doctorows]

Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins.

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson is super fun.

The Trial by Kafka. Anything Dostoevsky.

 

[Stagg737]

Candide and A Tale of Two Cities. Both taught me that just because something's done by "a master" doesn't mean it isn't absolute crap.

 

[Mad Jack]

 

[Master_of_Savage]

Starting Strength

Gotta get in your sets o’ fahve with hip drahve

 

[Psai]

White Coat Investor

 

[michaelrack]

The Art of the Deal

 

[chooks]

Dune.

 

[Wilf]

The Blank Slate by Steven Pinker

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

 

[SpartanDOnoharm]

One of my favorite books that I just read recently was The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. Not medicine related at all but some of the quotes in the book are amazing and potentially life changing.

 

[SouthernGent]

The Cosmos - Sagan
To the Last Man & The Last Full Measure- Shaara
Art of War - Sun Tzu

 

[prettylittlebird]

The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Harry Potter & the Philosopher's Stone, Dune all had an impact on my life at different times and for different reasons

 

[mostwanted]

The Slight Edge.

Every little decision you make on a day to day basis is either working for you or against you. What separates the best from rest, all products of small decisions magnified over time.


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[mistafab]

It doesn't surprise me more people haven't heard of this book. It's not really a story that med schools would tell you.

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[OtterSpace]

I'm talking about books that have made you a better doctor/med student by giving you perspective, helping you improve yourself, and imparting wisdom. Maybe it was a book that taught you how to think. Or a book that taught you how to communicate more effectively. Or maybe it was a piece of fiction that shed light on the complexity of humanity. Which books for you were life altering?

I'm reading 'Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if your life depended on it" & it is fascinating! There's a lot of insight to the largely irrational decision-making processes that happen in ppl's minds every day (that we're unaware of) & how it manifests itself when we negotiate pretty much anything e.g. a raise or promotion, help from others, and almost any instance that fulfills our 'wants'.

Really good for enhancing the effectiveness of your communication with others whether or not there is something to gain!

 

[rilte4]

Who Moved My Cheese?

 

[7495108]

Tattoos on the Heart - Greg Boyle (great for those interested in social justice)

 

[arcus]

Autobiographies like Condaleeza Rice

Extraordinary, Ordinary People: A Memoir of Family Paperback

I cried like a girl and loved it. Amazing woman and inspires me daily