Books


“A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.” 
― George R.R. MartinA Game of Thrones

As a medical student one thing you learn once you enter the doors, is that you will have a lot of information thrown at you and unless you have good resources you will be left behind trying to figure out what happened. As a student you're not required to purchase EVERY book. However you learn quickly that the bigger the book the more information it holds and it's worth finding out whether or not it suits your "study/learning" style before you purchase.  

Here are a few books that I found extremely helpful throughout the course of my first year in Medical School, which luckily will be carried through all five years as well *phew!* 

I will list the pros, cons, cost range and my overall "owl" rating. I will be rating the books on the scale of 1-5 owls, with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest. 

The rating will take into consideration the following: 

1. The amount of information in the book
2. Whether or not supplemental material was needed in addition to the book
3. User friendly (layout, how the information is organized)
4. Whether or not it could be purchased as an app. 
5. Are professors recommending it
6. Cost of the book


Gross Anatomy:

“I profess to learn and to teach anatomy not from books but from dissections, not from the tenets of Philosophers but from the fabric of Nature.” 

One subject that you have to understand is Gross Anatomy. I mean after all, as a doctor you are required and expected to  know the layout and positions of internal organs, muscles, bones and joints, which is why it is important to find a really great text and atlas. 

Some students are fortunate enough to learn with the use of cadavers, so they are capable of viewing the things they learn and see in a text on a cadaver. Others aren't as fortunate, so this makes the use of an atlas all the more vital.  

Netter's Atlas of Human Anatomy


Pros: This book is ideal for the photos and illustrations of everything. A good addition if you're just studying from the Netter's Anatomy Flashcards. The illustrations are very detailed and meticulous and it grants you the ability to see parts clearly which is vital in learning Anatomy in my opinion. Netter's is definitely a good investment. 
Cons: The book is all illustration, no pictures of actual dissections or the like, so when perform dissections, keep in mind things will not look as pretty and fresh as the book portrays. 
Cost: Ranges from US $59.00-79.00 on Amazon,  US $19.39-169.00 (new) on Barnes & Noble
Possibly cheaper if you can find an upper year selling books. Keep an eye on those bulletin boards around campus,           someone is always selling a book here or there. 
Overall Rating: 4 Owls

McMinn's Clinical Atlas of Human Anatomy


Pros: Includes illustrations, dissections and clinical cases. I found it helpful when studying GIT, as it gave different views on the gastrointestinal tract, and made learning about the rectus sheath easy to grasp, anatomically speaking. I used this in addition to the Netter's to get a "real-life" look at organs and for surface relations. 
Cons: The DVD was not available to get the full experience, (found this in the library at my school) and I'm not certain if it is still being printed.  
Cost Range: Unable to find information on this book. 
Overall Rating: 4 Owls

Gray's Anatomy for Students


Pros: Includes tables for comparisons, has information on any subject as it relates to Anatomy and is easy to read. The pictures are nice and semi-annotated. Recommended by others as a good read for Anatomy. If you purchase Moore's Clinically Oriented Anatomy, you can do without purchasing this book. It also contains clinical correlations to put information into context.
Cons: Very concise, some concepts easier to grasp than others, overall not consistent in the information. I personally prefer a text to have the information I need to know explained in a clear way, rather than vaguely stated and not fully explained. 
Cost Range: $29.00-89.00 at Amazon.com, $62.50 on eBay, and $31.50-89.60 on Barnes&Noble.com
Overall Rating: 3 Owls

Moore's Clinically Oriented Anatomy
Pros: Clear and easy to read, also contains tables and charts and clinical correlation with adequate pictures. My professor used this as his main source for lecture notes.
Cons: I didn't like the layout, since I had to skip a few sections before arriving at what I was learning and had to study for class. It is organized by anatomical areas i.e. Thoracic Cavity, Pelvis and Peritoneum etc.
Cost Range: $14.00-82.00at Amazon.com, $87.00 on eBay, and $59.00 on Barnes&Noble.com-paperback
Overall Rating: 5 Owls


Histology:

"As the arteries grow hard, the heart grows soft."--H.L. Mencken


diFore's Atlas of Histology


Pros: Has excellent pictures and perfect notes to accompany. I found myself using this along with my anatomy lecturer's notes to see the different epithelium and how cells change when going from the oesophagus to the stomach. 
Cons: No DVD, as others said their books came with DVDs. 
Cost Range:USD $55.00-73.00 on Amazon.com,  $30.00-125 on Barnes&Noble.com
Overall Rating: 5 Owls

Biochemistry:

“Information and complexity go hand in hand.” 
― Lee Spetner

Lippincott's Illustrated Review: Biochemistry

Pros: Easy to read and understand. I loved the charts and the chapter summaries, and the pictures were used by my professors in their lectures. 
Cons: Best used as a review or in addition to another book such as Harper's, and your lecturers' notes. Some topics are a bit scanty giving you what you need to know for overall standardized examinations and not necessarily what your school may be testing over. 
Cost Range: $15.00-61.00 on Amazon.com, $32.00-61.00 on Barnes&Noble.com
Overall Rating: 5 Owls

Harper's Illustrated: Biochemistry


Pros: All the topics you will need to know in one book. Diagrams are useful and detailed. Easy to understand.
Cons: Has some areas that are very involved and detailed, and other areas I wish were more in depth. 
Cost Range: $27.00-58.00 on Amazon
Overall Rating: 4 Owls



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