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deleted202457
Samuel Shem's "House of God" is a cult classic. Very different, but I think a good read.
Did you really like this book? I've been thinking about buying it because I always hear about it
Samuel Shem's "House of God" is a cult classic. Very different, but I think a good read.
For the same subject, I strongly recommend America's Forgotten Pandemic: The Influenza of 1918 by Alfred W. Crosby.
Maybe because people who are interested in medicine are naturally attracted to the culture? I read the books I have because I enjoy them, the fact that I enjoy medical literature (among many types) is more reflective of my enjoyment of the craft of medicine itself than because I believe it will help me on the interview trail.Why are people always pushing pre-meds to read medical books? Over the years, I've read quite a few of them and I don't think they have really helped me out.
I hate seeing kids on the interview trail talking about all the medical books that hey have read, and how they now know what they are getting themselves into b/c they read a few hundred pages about someones dramatized experience during third year or residency. Read things that you want to read, which most likely won't be a 300 page book on how someone felt during the match process. Don't jump on the bandwagon and pick up "Hot Light, Cold Steel", "House of God", "Complications", etc b/c someone on SDN thinks it's going to help you get into medical school.
Maybe because people who are interested in medicine are naturally attracted to the culture? I read the books I have because I enjoy them, the fact that I enjoy medical literature (among many types) is more reflective of my enjoyment of the craft of medicine itself than because I believe it will help me on the interview trail.
Anyway.
The Scalpel's Edge is quite a bit different from the other books mentioned here, but as someone interested in one day being a surgeon, I found it interesting. It's actually written by a cultural anthropologist who spent time shadowing and studying surgeons to better understand the mindset and culture of those who spend their lives cutting people open. It's really more of an extended academic thesis, but I still found it quite accessible overall and, as some of the reviews mention, the chapter on operating room rituals was especially fascinating.
There are quite a few books like the one that you mentioned there. I remember reading some book that was written by a PHD in a soft science (anthropology or sociology) that went back to medical school when he was about 40. Interesting book, but I think most people read these books to "look good" on the interview trail, and not b/c they love reading 15 books on what being a doctor is like.
Most of the doctors that I know would tell you that it's nothing other than a good job.
Why are people always pushing pre-meds to read medical books? Over the years, I've read quite a few of them and I don't think they have really helped me out.
I hate seeing kids on the interview trail talking about all the medical books that hey have read, and how they now know what they are getting themselves into b/c they read a few hundred pages about someones dramatized experience during third year or residency. Read things that you want to read, which most likely won't be a 300 page book on how someone felt during the match process. Don't jump on the bandwagon and pick up "Hot Light, Cold Steel", "House of God", "Complications", etc b/c someone on SDN thinks it's going to help you get into medical school.
Looking at my bookshelf this morning turned my thoughts to books that pre-meds might find interesting & thought provoking. These are oldies that you may find at your local library and they are also available online - often at a discount!
Although my local library contains an excellent collection of romantic novels and other assorted fluff, it didn't have any of the books on the list. 😡
Sigh... Social priorities.
Interlibrary loan! There's got to be at least one copy of each of those books somewhere in the great state of Texas. BTW Selzer's papers are in Austin, IIRC.
Public library + school library + interlibrary loan + Kindle + Amazon = 🙂
Many public libraries also have lots of audiobooks and ebooks, too 🙂
Some novels (nonmedical):
-Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
-The Regeneration trilogy by Pat Barker
-Atonement by Ian McEwan
-A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore
-On Beauty by Zadie Smith
-Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
-A Box of Matches by Nicholson Baker
-The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
-Freedom by Jonathan Frazen
-Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
-Portnoy's Complaint by Philip Roth
-The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe
-Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You by Peter Cameron (a young adult novel)
-A Patent Lie by Paul Goldstein
-The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown 😀
Maybe because people who are interested in medicine are naturally attracted to the culture? I read the books I have because I enjoy them, the fact that I enjoy medical literature (among many types) is more reflective of my enjoyment of the craft of medicine itself than because I believe it will help me on the interview trail.
Gawande's Better was great along with Complications. The Brain That Changes Itself by Dr. Norman Doidge was mind blowing, and it didn't read like a science journal.
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach was surprisingly hilarious and entertaining, I now know I will be donating my body to science when it's my time. Good summer read.
There are quite a few books like the one that you mentioned there. I remember reading some book that was written by a PHD in a soft science (anthropology or sociology) that went back to medical school when he was about 40. Interesting book, but I think most people read these books to "look good" on the interview trail, and not b/c they love reading 15 books on what being a doctor is like.
Most of the doctors that I know would tell you that it's nothing other than a good job.
The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera.
I hold this book in high esteem. Great novel. Very philosophical and introspective about life, love, purpose, and meaning.
(edit: and for you pre-meds one of the main characters is a young surgeon... if that's needed to pique your interest...)
"The Ghost Map" by steven johnson was recommended/gifted to me by older brother under the guise "If you're serious about being a doctor, you need to read this book" Not sure about that, but it's a good review of the cholera epidemic in London and Dr. Snow's thought processes