Recommend a biochem text?

[gary5]

I'd like to self-study some biochem for foundation for M1. Any recommendations for biochem textbook?

Thanks!

😛 😛

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[Jonathanamine]

ok you're a dork
but i am too 🙂


Voet
Voet
Pratt

 

[JulianCrane]

Biochemistry by Berg, Tymoczko, and Stryer. Everyone under the sun, for some reason, praises that book. Sure, it does explain things nicely, but there are some confusing things in the text and sporadic inaccurate figures.

 

[jlee9531]

hey juliancrane...

i just realized you meant the passions tv show haha.

man i am slow. with your id and location.

yeah yeah. i used to watch before i went to work but now i dont get any tv reception haha.

its oddly entertaining haha.

 

[ASDIC]

Originally posted by JulianCrane
Biochemistry by Berg, Tymoczko, and Stryer. Everyone under the sun, for some reason, praises that book. Sure, it does explain things nicely, but there are some confusing things in the text and sporadic inaccurate figures.

Biochemistry by Garrett and Grisham...great pictures and puts emphasis on molecular bio

 

[spumoni620]

Originally posted by gary5
I'd like to self-study some biochem for foundation for M1. Any recommendations for biochem textbook?

Thanks!

😛 😛

self-study? biochem? for ms1? a year ahead of time?

😱

i'd wait for the torture to begin than bring it on myself earlier than i had to. 😛

 

[mcandy]

dont get Voet, Voet, Pratt...it is miserable

 

[KarateGirl]

Personally, I think that's a good idea. I'm taking Biochem this semester for mostly that reason. I figure the more med school material I expose myself to now, while I have the time and focus, the easier next year will be. I might actually have time to do something other than study.

 

[spumoni620]

oh yeah, if you're actually taking the class (like i unfortunately am) it's all fine and good preparation for med school etc etc etc. but on your own, it would be a very un-fun thing to do.


p.s. avoid garret & grisham at all costs. yuck! if you really want to just get familiar w/biochem before med school, buy the schaum's outlines or go onto a college website and see if you can download a prof's lectures/notes for free. (if it's legal to do that)

 

[finnpipette]

yes, i second stryer. it's an awesome book, very easy read. stryer is a dry lecturer, bore...but the book is great.

 

[gary5]

Originally posted by spumoni620
oh yeah, if you're actually taking the class (like i unfortunately am) it's all fine and good preparation for med school etc etc etc. but on your own, it would be a very un-fun thing to do.


p.s. avoid garret & grisham at all costs. yuck! if you really want to just get familiar w/biochem before med school, buy the schaum's outlines or go onto a college website and see if you can download a prof's lectures/notes for free. (if it's legal to do that)

Well, I'm a nontrad and have already taken all my prereqs. Since I'm a non-bio major, I want to learn some of this now. Plus, it'll give me something to read on the treadmill at the gym.

Thanks! 😛 😱 😛

 

[G0S2]

I do think that the Lippincott Biochem Review by Champe and Harvey is very useful. Great to accompany any class. Meant for USMLE 1.

Also, Stryer is great. New Stryer is written by Jeremy Berg who lectures in the Molecules and Cells class for MS1 Hopkins students.

 

[jasonparks]

Voet and Voet is poorly written. I prefer Stryer.

 

[XCanadianRagwee]

Biochem is for Nerds Only
by XCanadianRagwee

 

[CH3CH2OH]

Originally posted by jasonparks
Voet and Voet is poorly written. I prefer Stryer.

My school uses (well, requires) Stryer, but all three of my biochem professors (yes, we have three professors for one class) recommended Voet and Voet. I only bought Stryer (couldn't find a reasonably priced V&V) so i can't give my opinion of which one is better, V&V is supposed to be more advance though. The fact is that no one follows any book in biochem classes, what i think might be useful is to look up lecture notes on med-schools' biochem websites, here's one.

 

[jacksonchan85]

I used Voet/Voet/Pratt for a full-year (2 semester) biochem course...I agree it's FAR TOO COMPLICATED - esp. reading about amino acid and nucleotide metabolism - you can spend hours reading those sections, and still be asking yourself the same question when you're done...."huh?"
😡

Originally posted by CH3CH2OH
My school uses (well, requires) Stryer, but all three of my biochem professors (yes, we have three professors for one class) recommended Voet and Voet. I only bought Stryer (couldn't find a reasonably priced V&V) so i can't give my opinion of which one is better, V&V is supposed to be more advance though. The fact is that no one follows any book in biochem classes, what i think might be useful is to look up lecture notes on med-schools' biochem websites, here's one.

 

[jesswise]

I, too, am looking ahead and buying books now. I, too, am non-trad, out of school and an (*whisper*) English major. So I have been doing the same thing, with biochem, histo, path, anatomy, etc.

What I have gleaned from the opinions of many others is....


LIPPINCOTT'S Review of Biochemistry wins!!!!! Many people rave about it. It may not contain all the details on your M1 class tests, but for a primer, and for USMLE review, it is highly regarded. Some people have gone so far as to call it the only biochem book you'll ever need. I don't know, mine hasn't arrived yet.

Jess

 

[Winston Smith]

We used Principles of Biochemistry by Lehninger. it is a superb textbook. I highly recommend it, I think it's the best textbook I've ever used in my life.

 

[sgilani]

Voet Voet is pretty bad. get either lehninger or stryer

 

[loomis]

we used lehninger (sp) in my class (much earlier edition that the current one) and i found it very clear and comprehensive (although maybe too much for med school level biochem). Lippinoctt is probably another good bet! nothing wrong with nerding it for alittle. i'll probably do the same since i've been out of school for quite a while!! 😀

 

[link26]

my biochem teacher used everything else for lectures....... but recommended voet voet for reading....

 

[tygrwds]

Originally posted by gary5
I'd like to self-study some biochem for foundation for M1. Any recommendations for biochem textbook?

If you're looking for a biochem foundation, then I would recommend Horton's text. I found it to be very useful, and its concise style got straight to the point. However, if you're looking for a book you might be able to prepare for the boards with, then consider the other recommendations.

Just my 2 pennies.

 

[LaurieB]

Originally posted by G0S2
I do think that the Lippincott Biochem Review by Champe and Harvey is very useful. Great to accompany any class. Meant for USMLE 1.

Also, Stryer is great. New Stryer is written by Jeremy Berg who lectures in the Molecules and Cells class for MS1 Hopkins students.

I'm going to add my vote for Lippincott. It helped me immensly when I took biochem and I know tons of med students who use it. Also, it is reasonably priced.

 

[Northerner]

Is this a sneaky way of asking for my Biochem notes? Because I've heard the rumors floating around about how good my notes are, but you should really buy a textbook if you are taking Biochem. Plus I'm a gunner who rips pages out of other people's notebooks when they're not looking and stuff them in my mouth real quick to dispose of the evidence. Or I suppose I could just photocopy my copy of Lehninger for you. No problem on the copying fees, I'll just bring my own tree into the library for compensation.

...sort of an uncharacteristically strange post by northerner, sorry...

 

[chameleonknight]

My BioChem prof (a Hopkins grad) swears by Lehninger's Principles of Biochemistry.

I found it pretty helpful and just as important, easy to read!

Hey, why not just buy three or four texts? You've got plenty of extra cash, right? 😉

 

[premedi-kid]

I'm taking a self-taught biochem course and we're using Lehninger's biochem book. It's not bad but not that great either. If you want a good general overview of biochem get lehningers text, otherwise get the notes as some person posted earlier.

peace out.

 

[Harps]

Biochemistry by Garrett and Grisham provides a solid foundation. The emphasis on molecular biology will be high yield for the Step 1 as well. In addition, the structure of each chapter--starting at the micro. level, progressing to the macro. structures and finally relating the importance to the overall function in body is marvellous.
I must add, though, that the text is cumbersome and can put one to sleep easily. So, Gary5, if you need biochemistry with pizzaz, I would utilize another book. But if you require a comprehensive study of biochemistry, G&G is a diamond.

Good Luck,
Harps

P.S. I am not a medical student, yet😛

 

[woolie]

I've signed up for Biochem next semester and we use the Berg text (Stryer). I also second the Lippincott USMLE I review book -

I wish I could take anatomy or physiology as well. I know, I am a total nerd too. 🙂

 

[Biochemist13]

Lippincott, by far the best Biochem book. Use it to supplement the text your school uses as well as the lectures. Gets through all the muck and breaks processes down to a rather elementary level.

 

[Aptamer]

I am also a proponent for Lehninger's Principles of Biochemistry.

However, if you want a free text to free, NCBI has free textbooks online though they are not in PDF format. NCBI recently just added the current edition of Berg, Tymoczko, and Stryer's Biochemistry, 5th edition.

Don't read the Molecular Biology of the Cell as it is the 1994 3rd edition.

 

[TheFlash]

Originally posted by Harps
Biochemistry by Garrett and Grisham provides a solid foundation. The emphasis on molecular biology will be high yield for the Step 1 as well.

I second the Garrett and Grisham recommendation. Garrett was actually my Biochemistry professor. The figures and logical separation of chapters made studying and understanding the terse material pretty easy, considering it was grad level biology. Maybe it was because Garrett's lectures coincided with his text very well, but I thought the G&G text was extremely handy.

tf

 

[AUdacious]

Lippincott Biochem Review