"Tell me about a book you read recently"

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What is being gauged with this question duing interviews? I have been reading a lot lately from a ton of different genres and am wondering, if asked, what sort of book I should focus on i.e. a best seller that the interviewer will likely be able to relate to, a book relating to a non-medical hobby I have, or relating to medicine? Or even relating a book about a non-medical hobby to medicine??
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and 99 others said:
What is being gauged with this question duing interviews? I have been reading a lot lately from a ton of different genres and am wondering, if asked, what sort of book I should focus on i.e. a best seller that the interviewer will likely be able to relate to, a book relating to a non-medical hobby I have, or relating to medicine? Or even relating a book about a non-medical hobby to medicine??
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I don’t think it matters.
 
and 99 others said:
What is being gauged with this question duing interviews? I have been reading a lot lately from a ton of different genres and am wondering, if asked, what sort of book I should focus on i.e. a best seller that the interviewer will likely be able to relate to, a book relating to a non-medical hobby I have, or relating to medicine? Or even relating a book about a non-medical hobby to medicine??
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I'd assume it's literally just to make sure you're not an academic robot and can hold a conversation about something non-academic. Also a good gauge of your personality.
 
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I interviewed for a student interviewer position at my school (didn't get it unfortunately), and during the interview the admissions officer told me he liked to ask that question. He uses it if he wants to lighten the conversation when the interviewee is visibly nervous, or if he wants to steer the conversation away from medicine. He doesn't really care what book you choose (Hunger Games/Harry Potter would be perfectly fine), but does get annoyed if people try too hard to relate the book to medicine/why they'd be a good doctor.
 
Honestly, I'd love to talk about some manga I've read recently, but I'll probably stick to standard novels. I'm itching to reread/catch up on a few series, and I might actually have the chance to do that this coming year.
 
In all seriousness what if you don’t read? I’m much more of a video game and movie person.
 
Laradd said:
Just list a couple books that you think are interesting. Doesn't even have to be recent
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You probably want to pick books that you've actually read - I've had interviews for jobs ask similar questions and, by random chance, one of my interviewers was a huge fantasy buff in one of the series I picked. If I hadn't actually read the novel, everything he said would have made zero sense to me.
 
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I think someone mentioned this earlier but what if we don’t really read for fun. Like I’ll read the news and interesting science articles, but I never enjoyed reading fiction novels.
 
sadpremed121 said:
I think someone mentioned this earlier but what if we don’t really read for fun. Like I’ll read the news and interesting science articles, but I never enjoyed reading fiction novels.
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I still have PTSD from AP literature in high school where my teacher destroyed our class with Crime and Punishment. I honestly can’t believe this might be counted against us.
 
doctorcocter said:
I still have PTSD from AP literature in high school where my teacher destroyed our class with Crime and Punishment. I honestly can’t believe this might be counted against us.
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There are genres of literature that exist beyond fiction. Plenty of interest science-related books that would be easy to hold a nice conversation about.

For those in this thread that struggle with "traditional fiction," try The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat, or The Drunkard's Walk.

I sincerely doubt that this question is meant to be counted against you in any way
 
I don't ask the book question but over the years I've had conversations with applicants about non-fiction books such as Knife Man Blood, Body Snatching, and the Birth of Modern Surgery by Wendy Moore and Death Foretold: Prophecy and Prognosis in Medical Care by Nicholas A. Christakis. There are many others -- if you enjoy the news, you might find that The Poisoned City by Anna Clark is a good fit. If you like science, try The Immortal LIfe of Henrietta Lacks.



 
and 99 others said:
What is being gauged with this question duing interviews? I have been reading a lot lately from a ton of different genres and am wondering, if asked, what sort of book I should focus on i.e. a best seller that the interviewer will likely be able to relate to, a book relating to a non-medical hobby I have, or relating to medicine? Or even relating a book about a non-medical hobby to medicine??
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How about answering this simple question and not treating it like a trap?
You know, like showing Adcoms that you're a real human being?
 
cj_cregg said:
Literally just read one book before the application cycle. Just one. Doesn't have to be long or hard. Of Mice & Men is like 6 chapters long. Read a book about the history of video games, or a book a movie you like is based on. Read a book about the history of medicine. If you have more than a few interviews you will almost certainly get asked this question and not being able to talk about a single book you have read in the last few years is not a good look.
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I was asked it at two of the three interviews I attended. Both times it led to a nice discussion, and I got into both of those schools. They just want to get to know you as a person, and having no real answer to these kinds of questions isn’t good.
 
cj_cregg said:
Literally just read one book before the application cycle. Just one. Doesn't have to be long or hard. Of Mice & Men is like 6 chapters long. Read a book about the history of video games, or a book a movie you like is based on. Read a book about the history of medicine. If you have more than a few interviews you will almost certainly get asked this question and not being able to talk about a single book you have read in the last few years is not a good look.
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I agree. I don’t love reading, but I forced myself to read two books in the past few months. It wasn’t difficult; each of them only took a couple of days. Both were nonfiction. I learned some things. I could answer this question if asked in an interview.
 
LizzyM said:
I don't ask the book question but over the years I've had conversations with applicants about non-fiction books such as Knife Man Blood, Body Snatching, and the Birth of Modern Surgery by Wendy Moore and Death Foretold: Prophecy and Prognosis in Medical Care by Nicholas A. Christakis. There are many others -- if you enjoy the news, you might find that The Poisoned City by Anna Clark is a good fit. If you like science, try The Immortal LIfe of Henrietta Lacks.
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Honestly, I'm reading this book right now and is the reason why I asked the question. If asked, I would probably answer with Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks; it's really great. But I understand that the question is also about understanding the applicant as a person and I wasn't sure if answering with a medical/science related book would reinforce the impression of premed robot or something.
 
cj_cregg said:
I don't think it would make you look like a robot. It's not the same as reading a textbook - it's medicine-related but it's really humanities. There are a lot of really wonderful physician authors out there - as well as some excellent non-physicians - who write really fascinating books about the history of medicine, the people behind medical advancements, the patient experience, etc. Thinking of the types of folks who were involved in my school's admissions process, they highly value the ability to understand the science of medicine within the context of society, culture, economics, politics, and individual's lives. And I think that's what books like Immortal Life help us do.
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Agreed. One of my answers was The Checklist Manifesto. My interviewer actually really dislikes Atul Gawande’s writing, but it led to a good discussion about physician authors.
 
My two cents: I was an English/Creative Writing major, so I enjoy fiction inherently, but I honestly believe the study of stories made me a more open-minded, empathetic, and tolerant human. If anyone wants some book recommendations (inside or outside of interview prep), feel free to reach out.
 
I was prepared for this question, I in fact kept this book in my back pocket so I could pull it out when they asked me this very question.

NeTtEr'S aNaToMy CoLoRiNg BoOk

I knew that I was a shoe-in based on the faded color contrast I created between the sphenomandibular and the stylomandibular ligament. The adcom was absolutely speechless.​
 
and 99 others said:
What is being gauged with this question duing interviews? I have been reading a lot lately from a ton of different genres and am wondering, if asked, what sort of book I should focus on i.e. a best seller that the interviewer will likely be able to relate to, a book relating to a non-medical hobby I have, or relating to medicine? Or even relating a book about a non-medical hobby to medicine??
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To show you don't just play vidya games during free time?
 
Doktor_dud3 said:
Kaplan Test Prep MCAT Complete 7-Book Subject Review 2018-2019: Online + Book (Kaplan Test Prep)
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Is a prerequisite in being a mod to be funny af? Has anyone else noticed these guys always come up with the wittiest jokes lol
 
honeybee87 said:
Is a prerequisite in being a mod to be funny af? Has anyone else noticed these guys always come up with the wittiest jokes lol
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We have to prepare 5 minutes of stand-up and get at least a half-hearted applause to pass.
 
and 99 others said:
Honestly, I'm reading this book right now and is the reason why I asked the question. If asked, I would probably answer with Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks; it's really great. But I understand that the question is also about understanding the applicant as a person and I wasn't sure if answering with a medical/science related book would reinforce the impression of premed robot or something.
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Well, it has been required reading for some M1 students so it wouldn't be considered a bad choice on your part. When you mentioned reading science books I was thinking of a title like Protein Folding: An Introduction.
 
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Books have always struggled to keep my attention throughout my adolescence and early adulthood and were the reason for my avoidance of English courses like the plague. Now in my mid-twenties, after taking a couple of English courses, my eyes have been open to a side of humanity that I feel that I was completely ignorant towards. Non-fiction is great, but I think that there is a true value in putting some thought into reading fiction, as it can give you a dimension of insight beyond facts. So even if you don't have the focus to read dense novels, I implore you to try reading short stories. I am certain you can have a meaningful conversation about why you choose to read short stories and the value you see in it, without it being too much of a drain.


Personally, I have been fond of historical fiction as of late, because often it gives you a healthy mix of both facts and fiction.
 
I was just asked this question in a mock interview and said “The Giver” because it brings a nostalgic sense from when I read it as a child of a boy taking control over his own destiny.

My interviewers (4 physicians) really liked that. So, I am going to say don’t be too serious with the question. Give an honest answer.
 
I’m currently reading a book on marathoning since it’s been a hobby of mine for some time. Would it be bad to talk about this since it’s not really academic? I did include this activity in my amcas
 
beattheprocess said:
So what about Twilight or 13 Reasons Why?
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Not for a secondary, but for interviews...I am going with either “The Giver” or “Hyperion”

I don’t particularly care for these educational memoir type books...I would rather just watch the author’s Ted Talk and move on.
 
LizzyM said:
Given that they are popular, has either one sparked a discussion with others who have read it? Do you see either book having a role in changing attitudes or practices among those who have read them?
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Ha I was actually joking around since someone mentioned 50 shades and that was a Twilight fan fic, and so is 13 reasons why. But to answer the question, Twilight probably hasn't, but 13 did increase awareness and discussion about suicide and mental health. For changing practices, do you mean medical practices? If you do then I have no idea.
 
beattheprocess said:
Ha I was actually joking around since someone mentioned 50 shades and that was a Twilight fan fic, and so is 13 reasons why. But to answer the question, Twilight probably hasn't, but 13 did increase awareness and discussion about suicide and mental health. For changing practices, do you mean medical practices? If you do then I have no idea.
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...13 Reasons Why is a twilight fan fic? I had never heard that before and I have a very hard time believing it. (There's a few fan fics of the same name that meet that description, but they appear to have been published well after the release of the original novel).
 
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