Summer Reading - Are these any good?

[Anastomoses]

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So since realizing that Step I prep is a waste of time before taking pharm, patho I, micro, etc...I decided to learn some concepts tightly. I have 3 books on this list and I'd like to get through as much of them as possible. Please donate any thoughts if you've heard about or read these yourself.

1. Vanders Renal Physiology
2. How the Immune System Works
3. Lange's Cardiovascular Physiology

 

[HatWobble]

So since realizing that Step I prep is a waste of time before taking pharm, patho I, micro, etc...I decided to learn some concepts tightly. I have 3 books on this list and I'd like to get through as much of them as possible. Please donate any thoughts if you've heard about or read these yourself.

1. Vanders Renal Physiology
2. How the Immune System Works
3. Lange's Cardiovascular Physiology

Yeesh... I think I'd rather get dental surgery than read Vander's as "summer reading".

Vander's is a solid monograph, but it's pretty dry. It will definitely help you with your understanding of renal function.

"How the Immune System Works" is much easier to read. It will give you a nice overview of immunological concepts, but as for helping you learn details, it's not great.

I haven't read the third book on your list.

Personally, I'm taking these summer months to read anything besides medicine textbooks.

 

[Anastomoses]

Yeesh... I think I'd rather get dental surgery than read Vander's as "summer reading".

Vander's is a solid monograph, but it's pretty dry. It will definitely help you with your understanding of renal function.

"How the Immune System Works" is much easier to read. It will give you a nice overview of immunological concepts, but as for helping you learn details, it's not great.

I haven't read the third book on your list.

Personally, I'm taking these summer months to read anything besides medicine textbooks.

I get really anxious trying to read anything other than medical books these days. I always feel like I'm wasting the mental energy on ideas that may interfere with my learning. I know that sounds kooky.

 

[HatWobble]

I get really anxious trying to read anything other than medical books these days. I always feel like I'm wasting the mental energy on ideas that may interfere with my learning. I know that sounds kooky.

I know that feeling, too. I don't think it's a good thing to feel like that. Not to sound preachy, but I think it'll help your long-term sanity if you try to teach yourself to let go of that feeling. As they say, "time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time."

 

[jerseytrash]

I get really anxious trying to read anything other than medical books these days. I always feel like I'm wasting the mental energy on ideas that may interfere with my learning. I know that sounds kooky.

You're going to need to change that attitude if you want to keep your sanity and go through medical school without turning into a crazy cat lady/dude. Your entire life can't be purely about medicine/studying. Find activities you enjoy, and do them on a regular basis.

 

[yehhhboiii]

I get really anxious trying to read anything other than medical books these days. I always feel like I'm wasting the mental energy on ideas that may interfere with my learning. I know that sounds kooky.

nah it sounds reasonable to me. i always feel lost after a test and the weekend is free. i'm thinking what is my purpose? i have nothing to do.

nowadays i kinda feel like im wasting time if im not studying but whatever it's summer. just gonna relax

 

[tco]

nah it sounds reasonable to me. i always feel lost after a test and the weekend is free. i'm thinking what is my purpose? i have nothing to do.

nowadays i kinda feel like im wasting time if im not studying but whatever it's summer. just gonna relax

I've had 1.5 days off since finish my peds clerkship...It has been the most boring 1.5 days of my life. No money to do anything significant, no interest in anything cheap...I've worked out, worked on my personal statement, and drank some and that's about it.

 

[John Lannister]

So since realizing that Step I prep is a waste of time before taking pharm, patho I, micro, etc...I decided to learn some concepts tightly. I have 3 books on this list and I'd like to get through as much of them as possible. Please donate any thoughts if you've heard about or read these yourself.

1. Vanders Renal Physiology
2. How the Immune System Works
3. Lange's Cardiovascular Physiology

If you want to sell your life to medicine at least do something useful.

Pathoma and nothing else. You could literally watch and read it 3 times and it would be beneficial. None of those things would benefit you at all.

I've had 1.5 days off since finish my peds clerkship...It has been the most boring 1.5 days of my life. No money to do anything significant, no interest in anything cheap...I've worked out, worked on my personal statement, and drank some and that's about it.

I know what you guys are saying. I think medical school demands so much that going back to normal is hard sometimes.

I know that feeling, too. I don't think it's a good thing to feel like that. Not to sound preachy, but I think it'll help your long-term sanity if you try to teach yourself to let go of that feeling. As they say, "time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time."

This. I think you need to understand medical school is about performing at a high level at the appropriate times (during M2, before boards, etc). If you are always "going" then you will be tired when it comes time to really go.

 

[tranquilo]

I think you need to understand medical school is about performing at a high level at the appropriate times (during M2, before boards, etc). If you are always "going" then you will be tired when it comes time to really go.

Great advice. Take note.

 

[eastcoastdr]

Summer reading to me means light and easy reading..if I were to study during my days off, I would read dedicated board review books..BRS, First Aid, Pathoma. Since you haven't taken Path yet, I would suggest subject-specific books. BRS makes a physiology book thats great and it covers both renal and cardio phys well in my opinion. Obviously not as indepth as medical textbooks but it will teach you everything you need to know for testing purposes.

There's also plenty of medically-related books out there. Since you feel guilty about not doing something school related, this might be a good in-between for you. I myself am planning on reading Elyn Saks "The Center Cannot Hold" after my step 2 CK is over and done with. It's about a woman's personal struggle with schizophrenia. "Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot is supposed to be good too.

But really, you should relax and have fun during your time off!

 

[Anastomoses]

If you want to sell your life to medicine at least do something useful.

Pathoma and nothing else. You could literally watch and read it 3 times and it would be beneficial. None of those things would benefit you at all.

I know what you guys are saying. I think medical school demands so much that going back to normal is hard sometimes.

This. I think you need to understand medical school is about performing at a high level at the appropriate times (during M2, before boards, etc). If you are always "going" then you will be tired when it comes time to really go.

Isn't Pathoma more for after you've already been introduced to Pathology? I was thinking of doing it along with my classes. I've listened to the Goljan audios while driving (so no wasted time there - otherwise I would have been listening to music) and I realized it's a huge waste of energy when you only understand 50% of what he's talking about...

So far I'm loving Vander's. Crisp and clear. It's a stark contrast to Guyton which is so painfully repetitive and tiresome.

I hear what you're saying about down time; it's something I really have to get better at because I have had times when I felt ready to shut down at the wrong time. But I won't ever waste high energy alertness on something else. Tough balance.

 

[sailedtothesea]

I think medically relevant books is a good idea for an in between! Have you read Mountains beyond Mountains or Emperor of All Maladies? I would suggest one of those!! There are plenty of books around similar to those too that would be worth the read.

 

[Kahreek]

take a nice promenade through the verdant fields or consume alcohol within moderation while having silly talks with whoever is around. That is summer.

 

[alpinism]

Isn't Pathoma more for after you've already been introduced to Pathology? I was thinking of doing it along with my classes. I've listened to the Goljan audios while driving (so no wasted time there - otherwise I would have been listening to music) and I realized it's a huge waste of energy when you only understand 50% of what he's talking about...

So far I'm loving Vander's. Crisp and clear. It's a stark contrast to Guyton which is so painfully repetitive and tiresome.

I hear what you're saying about down time; it's something I really have to get better at because I have had times when I felt ready to shut down at the wrong time. But I won't ever waste high energy alertness on something else. Tough balance.

If you're that bored this summer, at least try to do something productive like research, getting more clinical experience, or working w/ an NGO/community service org you're passionate about. Or you can always just travel and see the world during your last summer...

Going over M1 physio again is basically a huge waste of time for many reasons:

1. You'll forget 90% of it just like you did during the regular school year (likely more since you're not being tested on anything).
2. You'll go over physio again multiple times during M2 path/pharm courses, in addition to studying for boards and then shelf exams during 3rd year. Trust me, M1 was not the last time you'll be exposed to Renal or CV physio.
3. Much of the M1 basic science courses, esp the minutiae found in those organ specific books is not very useful for everyday clinical medicine.
4. M1 is only meant to be a foundation for M2 courses which is when you really learn how to be a doctor (ie diagnose and treat disease). If you really want to learn something useful this summer, go read Robbins and then go through Pathoma.

 

[Anigma07]

You're going to need to change that attitude if you want to keep your sanity and go through medical school without turning into a crazy cat lady/dude. Your entire life can't be purely about medicine/studying. Find activities you enjoy, and do them on a regular basis.

+1. You will most likely find yourself in a state of depression if you only commit your life only to medicine. Do some activities that make you a multi-dimensional person and help you interact with others.

 

[evilbooyaa]

Do research rather than whatever the hell you're planning. It will benefit you more than any of those 3 books and any of the other suggestions (LOL Pathoma suggestion for someone who has had 0 path)