Being a part of the medical field requires a lot of hard work and effort. Medical students often spend most of their time attending classes and studying for a test. This hardly leaves them time to do anything else. But reading books related to people who have already been through what you are going through now or who have experiences to share that you can learn from, can be beneficial. Reading not only helps enhance your mindset but also provides you with valuable input regarding your future in medicine. In this article, Study MBBS will suggest you a few such books that can help in improving both your knowledge and communication skills:
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales by Oliver Sacks
‘The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales’ is an extraordinary book penned by Oliver Sacks in the year 1985. The book includes different stories of patients who are suffering from neurological disorders. It talks about the people who have no recollection of the past and have lost their memories. These patients do not recognize anything related to them in the past and yet have to adapt to the present environment. The book is a must-read for every medical aspirant as it is filled with real case studies from Dr. Sacks’ medical experiences.
Bad Science by Ben Goldacre
Health has become a real obsession among people in the past few years. Even the media has been playing a significant role in spreading both accurate and misleading conceptions and health information. In his book ‘Bad Science’, Ben Goldacre has tried to discuss such contradictory and unknown information regarding health issues that have gripped us for a long time now. Goldacre criticizes the media and its role in spreading information among the common people of society. Every student who is into this field and wishes to become one in the future must read this book at least once in their lives.
The House of God by Samuel Shem
Written in the year 1978 by Samuel Shem, ‘The House of God’ is a satirical novel that showcases the journey of becoming a doctor in real life. The story revolves around Dr. Roy Basch, who has started his rotatory internship in a hospital- House of God. it showcases how interns have to bear the pressure of overloading work and face cruel situations at the very start of their careers. The main protagonist also has several such experiences which change his entire personality and outlook. The author also describes how these internships make the students emotionally available and disrupt their normal life. The book can take the readers on an emotional roller-coaster ride and very well showcases how students ultimately become doctors.
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
‘Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers’ is a non-fictional book that revolves around dead bodies and their scientific contributions to society. The author describes how the usage of cadavers has changed over time and also discusses its impact on research. Roach has traveled all over the world to investigate this matter and has come up with facts and conclusions about corpses in this process. After reading this book, readers are sure to believe that dead bodies have contributed a lot to the knowledge of the living. The author also makes a point that death is not the ultimate end. Medical aspirants will surely find this piece worth reading.
Reading books helps students in improving their knowledge and communication and even adds to their overall effectiveness. This ultimately helps them in getting MBBS admission at the top college of their dreams. Apart from the above-mentioned books, there are several other books that medical aspirants can read- ‘Where There Is No Doctor: A Village Healthcare Handbook’ by David Werner, ‘Unnatural Causes’ by Dr. Richard Shepherd, ‘Complications, Better, The Checklist Manifesto, Being Mortal’ by Atul Gawande, ‘When Breath Becomes Air’ by Paul Kalanithi, ‘Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death and Brain Surgery’ by Henry Marsh, and ‘Trust Me, I’m a Junior Doctor’ by Max Pemberton among others.
Study MBBS is considered a top MBBS consultancy in Kolkata that helps students in getting into the best colleges in India and abroad. For more such tips and information about MBBS, please contact Study MBBS.
