Reccomended premed reading material??

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Sarah Kerr

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I just started college, and I am of course anxious to know as much infomation as I can about everything from my first premed semester, to graduation from medical school. I would just feel more confident in my choices and the paths I take if I were better informed. Do any of you reccomend any books, websites, etc., that you think may help out just a little 'ole premed?! I would value any of your advice!!! 🙂 Sorry if this is being discussed elsewhere...I searched and couldn't find anything.


Merry Christmas everyone!
 
Clarksville is near me almost!! Where aer you going to school at anyway. I am a sophomore, and just decided to go pre-med, so I'm interested in the answer too.
 
I think that The Intern Blues by Robert Marion (I think) is a good read if you are considering medical school. It is about three first year pediatric residents in New York.

I also recommend Gifted Hands by Ben Carson. Just in case you don't know, Ben Carson is the first surgeon to successfully separate Siamese twins joined at the head.

These books are more for enjoyment than anything else. 🙂
 
I've read that book "Gifted Hands", by Ben Carson as well. Although it doesn't give alot of hardcore information about medschool and things like that, it gives his perspective on being a doctor and its just a good book in general. Highly recommended.
 
I just got the book The Intern Blues from my husband for Christmas, so that was lucky for me!! I'll be sure to check out Gifted Hands, also. Thanks for the suggestions. 🙂 I just want to suck up information from any source I can find.

By the way klinzou, I go to Austin Peay State University in Clarksville.
 
I would definitely but Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR) from AAMC. This book will be like your bible.
 
ha i love thes motivated people. God fresh year .. thinking of premed reading material just wanst happenign for me, but i like that there are some really motivated people. im yet to indulge in the "premed reading" and i have already applied.. oh well
 
Two nonfiction gems I loved and highly recommend.

"The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down" by Anne Fadiman. it addresses a conflict between American doctors and a Hmong family over care for their daughter, diagnosed with epilepsy -- a conflict that leads to tragic results. Info packed and gripping. (A really hot item in academia -- I believe UCLA made this required reading for 1st years, and UCD undergrad formally recommended this to its incoming students)

"Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom -- a dying professor spends a series of afternoons discussing issues on life, death, happiness with a former student. Short and sweet.

Enjoy!
 
I would have to agree with a previous post...The House of God is a damn good book that give you a little insight into the life of an intern. Also, The Year of the Intern, by Robin Cook, is a geat book.
 
"Body of Knowledge" by Steve Giegerich is a relatively short book that follows four MS1 through gross anatomy at University of Medicine and Dentistry-Newark. I loved the book and it seems to give you some insight into what to expect (I hope). Another book that is similar, but still a great read is "First Cut" by Albert Howard Carter III. This follows MS1 through gross anatomy at Emory. It was very interesting to read how the two different schools ran the class.
 
THE HOUSE OF GOD
SAMUEL SHEM

THE HOUSE OF GOD
SAMUEL SHEM

THE HOUSE OF GOD
SAMUEL SHEM

OH THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!
DR. SEUSS
 
Hurrah for the new cycle of n00bi3s!! :clap: :clap: :clap:

I read "Gifted Hands" and thought it was a great book! I luv Ben Carson!! Other than that, I didn't read too much premed stuff 😀!
 
Originally posted by Pickle Salt
THE HOUSE OF GOD
SAMUEL SHEM
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I'm reading the book right now, and it makes me want to simultaneously drop out of med school (though I haven't even started yet) and commit seppuku. Be warned all you out there who are thinking of picking it up!
 
Originally posted by crazyA
I'm reading the book right now, and it makes me want to simultaneously drop out of med school (though I haven't even started yet) and commit seppuku. Be warned all you out there who are thinking of picking it up!
Click to expand...

:laugh:

seriously, i think the only reason people recommend this book to fellow premeds is to scare off their competition 😛

haha, in any case its a great read
 
I agree with Gifted Hands. It is a very good book and inspirational as well. 🙂
 
I'm reading the book right now, and it makes me want to simultaneously drop out of med school (though I haven't even started yet) and commit seppuku. Be warned all you out there who are thinking of picking it up!
Click to expand...


When you said "seppuku" it made me wanna play Tekken 4...ya know...Yoshimitsu?? Nevermind :laugh:
 
Understanding Health Policy,
By Bodenheimer.

It clearly describes whats going on in American Healthcare these days. If you want to know about the environment you'll be practicing in, read this book. Its well written and explains the mess of a system that is American Healthcare.
 
hi,
ima sophomore alsop..pre-med. ive been pre-med ever since like 5. lol. anyway, my freind from austraila who is also pre-med was telling me about a book whose name i couldnt remember, but it was something like heartf full of roses or something to do with the word heart....i heard it is a really good book. dont know the author though.
 
There's a book I read called "White Coat" by Ellen Rothman. Some people who read it thought it was kind of self-important (she went to Harvard) but I didn't think so at all. She basically just talks about what it was like for her while she was going through medical school. I found it most useful in that it gives a lot of detail about the issues and problems she faced during the clerkship years (last two years).
 
Several suggestions:

"Rotations" by Robert Marion, MD (this is kind of a second episode of Intern Blues)

"Complications" by Atul Gawande, MD

I also found a lot of other good books by looking in the same general section in the library-I believe the Dewey Decimal number that corresponds with this subject is 610.
 
Originally posted by Rapid Decomposition
There's a book I read called "White Coat" by Ellen Rothman. Some people who read it thought it was kind of self-important (she went to Harvard) but I didn't think so at all. She basically just talks about what it was like for her while she was going through medical school. I found it most useful in that it gives a lot of detail about the issues and problems she faced during the clerkship years (last two years).
Click to expand...

I have to say that the book was probably one of the most boring goddamned books I've ever read. I would rather have shoved pins under my fingernails. And I did finish it, partly because someone actually bought it for me, and partly out of morbid curiosity.

mike
 
"A Spirit Catches you and you fall down" by Fadiman. Required reading during the first year at my school. Great book.

"Grace and Grit" by Ken Wilber. It is about his wife's battle with cancer. A truly inspiring book that looks at the pros and cons of medicine and gets into the deeper aspects of life.

"Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom. Really quick and inspiring read. Read it on a rainy day when you feel kind of numb to the world. Very touching book.

"Arrowsmith" by Sinclair Lewis. Good classic read about a person's experience in doctoring, etc.

"Love and Survival" by Dean Ornish. Not the best writer, but shares some interesting perspectives on the importance of emotions and relationships to health.

Enjoy.
 
Originally posted by mikecwru
I have to say that the book was probably one of the most boring goddamned books I've ever read. I would rather have shoved pins under my fingernails. And I did finish it, partly because someone actually bought it for me, and partly out of morbid curiosity.

mike
Click to expand...

True, it's no pulitzer prize winner. Whatever, I liked it. To each his own.
 
Originally posted by kaos
I read "Gifted Hands" and thought it was a great book! I luv Ben Carson!!
Click to expand...

My s.o. and I both love him. We both think he's amazing. The difference is that I also think he's a hottie (are we supposed to say that about neuro gods?? :laugh:); my s.o. just says B.C. makes him feel glad to be black...
 
hey... are you related to mr. steve kerr by any chance? just curious...
p
 
I liked 'White Coat' by Ellen Rothman as well, Rapid. 🙂 I have read almost all of Robert Marion's books, they are awesome! The book that I didnt like was by Perri Klass: Not a Benign Procedure. The book was oozing with her pessimism.
 
"Body of Knowledge" by Steve Giegerich- follows first years through anatomy class

"The Language of Cells" by Spencer Nadler- surgical pathologist talks about coming out from behind the microscope to learn more about his patients

"Just Here Trying to Save a Few Lives" by Pamela Grim - cheesy at times (just skip those parts), but fun if you're interested in the life of an emergency room doc

Also, "As I Live and Breath"- can't remember the author- great book written by a doc who has immuno deficiency problems
 
"Life after Medical School" is a good book. It has real life stories from 32 docs.
 
Originally posted by Sarah Kerr
I just started college, and I am of course anxious to know as much infomation as I can about everything from my first premed semester, to graduation from medical school. I would just feel more confident in my choices and the paths I take if I were better informed. Do any of you reccomend any books, websites, etc., that you think may help out just a little 'ole premed?! I would value any of your advice!!! 🙂 Sorry if this is being discussed elsewhere...I searched and couldn't find anything.


Merry Christmas everyone!
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Sarah,

I just finished a book called Her Own Medicine, by Sayantani DasGupta, which chronicles her life as a med student including rotations and attitudes of males toward female med students and physicians. Excellent read.

Onyx
 
Originally posted by souljah1
"A Spirit Catches you and you fall down" by Fadiman. Required reading during the first year at my school. Great book.

Click to expand...

Incredible book!!!! It absolutely changed my perspective on medicine. Before I read it, I did not believe in any non-western medicine. Now I believe that there are many paths to healing. This is one of those books that will make you a better doctor, in that it will cause you to consider the patient's culture.
 
I'm going to pile on about "The Spirit Catches You..."

I just finished it and it really is an amazing read. This should be required reading for life, not just med school.
 
Walking out on the Boys, by Frances K. Conley

This book is an account of the politics of being a surgeon and a woman physician. Very interesting read.


Also, if you want a huge list of reading, movies, etc check out the Columbia Postbac program's website. This is what their "gods of admission" recommend reading. (Some for info about being a doctor, some to make you a better interviewee.)

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/gspremed/

It is under USEFUL INFO.
 
Originally posted by Sarah Kerr
I just started college, and I am of course anxious to know as much infomation as I can about everything from my first premed semester, to graduation from medical school. I would just feel more confident in my choices and the paths I take if I were better informed. Do any of you reccomend any books, websites, etc., that you think may help out just a little 'ole premed?! I would value any of your advice!!! 🙂 Sorry if this is being discussed elsewhere...I searched and couldn't find anything.


Merry Christmas everyone!
Click to expand...


for a good outline of the whole process check here SDN Big Guide
 
"Becoming a Physician: A practical and creative guide to a career in medicine" or something of that nature, by Jennifer and Marita Danek....SOOO helpful, I'm a freshman too!
 
"First, Do No Harm" by Lisa Belkin
really helped me see the practical aspects of ethical problems in a personal ( and therefore entertaining ) way. For those interested in UTH or Baylor, the book takes place in the Texas Medical Center.

Caring for Patients from Different Cultures: Case Studies from American Hospitals (Second Edition) by Geri-Ann Galanti. Really quick read and fascinating. I did not even realize that I had some very culturally oriented practices until I read this book. Many times we think our mannerisms/beliefs (especially Second Generation Americans) are familial, when in fact, they are cultural.
 
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