It’s been quite some time since I posted the “Best Books for USMLE” and this time around I thought I would just update the different versions of text out there.

Here are the ULTIMATE essentials:

Number 1:

First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 (2010)

If I have to tell why you need this book to do well in the boards then I really don’t know where you’ve been. This is a NECESSITY! It contains all the information you will need to, at a minimum, pass the USMLEs. You will need the other books in this list to truly get those 240+ scores. With each new edition the book series gets better and contains all the relevant medical systems as well as some pharm and biochem. If you have to buy one book – this is it. Enjoy.

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There are basically only TWO pharmacology books you will ever need in med school. This is because a lot of the pharm knowledge is made available from other text books around the way.

Here we go:

NUMBER 1:

Lippincotts Illustrated Reviews: Pharmacology, 4th Edition (Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews Series)

This basically the ONLY book you will ever need to supplement your pharmacology cravings. I only started using it from the middle of 2009, but now I can’t get enough of it. Brilliant presentation, simple layout, easy to read text and a lot of questions to keep you thinking long after the chapter.

Whether you are cramming for the boards or just other exams, it comes as an invaluable resource to the person using it. If you have to buy only one pharmacology text book then this is it.

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Sorry it’s been a while but Exams, Christmas and New Years have been keeping me busy throughout the last few months.

Back to work: here are the ONLY pathology books you will need during your med schools years.

Number 1:

Rapid Review Pathology

This is without a doubt one of the first pathology books you have to get (along with the Goljan Audio Files). He covers all the necessary fields (cardiovascular, endocrinology, GIT, etc) and has tonnes of pictures and clinical correlations that will help with your curriculum as well as the USMLEs. I don’t need to sell this text book to you because everybody knows Goljan.

Admittedly, the structure is in the form of bullet points and some people will not like this, but for the information you have to get through I have yet to find any other method that works.

Bottom Line: This book is great, buy it!

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These books are not in any order. They are, however, rather necessary to get through any Peds/Paeds clinical rotation:

NUMBER 1

Lecture Notes: Paediatrics

I can’t stop telling people how great the Lecture Note series of books are. They are concise, accurate and high yield sources better than most texts in their respective fields. The down side is they are fairly wordy and lack diagrams, which usually leads of boredom or study crash syndrome for some medical students. A lot of the older doctors who teach you on your clinical placements have either read or have been taught something from these books. Get yours now.

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These are  a few colognes I have tried and actually come to love.

Number 1

Burberry Brit for Men

By Burberry

Classic British Man is what this is supposed to bring to mind. It smells fantastic without being overbearing and assertive. A great number with women as well, though some types may feel that it is not “tough” enough – losers.

Burberry Runner Up:

Burberry the Beat

This is a blend of pepper, vetiver and leather wood. Great for hiking, fireplaces and leather jacket owners.

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How good is your written English, let alone your punctuation?

Here is a guide from WikiHow that should get you writing your assignments with more literal pizazz. A medical student should at least know the basics; a great medical student should know how to bend the rules to his/her will.

Enjoy.

How to Use English Punctuation Correctly

from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

With the dawn of the Internet, the birth of Internet slang, and the growing age of SMS, many individuals are forgetting the fundamental aspects of English punctuation. Would you like to write a great paper for one of your classes? Maybe you need to submit a polished, impeccable proposal to your boss. If so, it will help to know proper usage of punctuation. Consider this article a crash course in English punctuation, and read on.

Steps

1. End your sentences with a period (full stop), question mark, or exclamation point (exclamation mark or shout mark).
   • Use the period (full stop) to denote a full stop at the end of a statement. The period ( . ) is one of the most commonly used punctuation marks.
     • The accessibility of the computer has increased tremendously over the past several years.
   • The question mark ( ? ), used at the end of a sentence, suggests an interrogatory remark or inquiry.
     • What has humanity done about the growing concern of global warming?
   • The exclamation point (exclamation mark, shout mark)( ! ) suggests excitement or emphasis in a sentence.
     • I can’t believe how difficult the exam was!

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Here are a set of books which will help you communicate better with the senior doctors (especially Surgeons) by having something in common with them. These books have been read by most residents and consultants in the hospital and helps in getting into the mind of some of them. It is in no particular order.

Enjoy!

The House of God by Samuel Shem

This book is THE CLASSIC intern novel. It may have been written a long time ago, but most of the information is still relevant today. The novel follows the life of a first year intern (Dr Roy Basch) and all the people he encounters and befriends, from disgruntled patients to sexy romps with nurses. This novel is really for anyone who ever worked in a hospital from medical students, nurses, physiotherapists to doctors and hospital administraters. Any of the doctors who teach you have read this before (I promise) and quote it repeatedly. It is however a tad sexist (it was written in the 70s), but if you can get beyond that it is a pleasure to read.

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The Windsor Knot

No one takes you seriously as a medical student and no will take you seriously if you aren’t able to tie a Windsor Knot – the golden standard for neck ties.

These guides should solve all your problems.

The Windsor Tie Tutorial Video

A step by step picture guide can be found at tie-a-tie.net

Also See:

MOST ESSENTIAL USMLE Step 1 Preparation Textbooks

Supplementary USMLE Book List

Top Cardiology Books

Best 5 Anatomy Books

EKG/ECG Books

As a medical student, you will be faced with various situations which require you to mingle with other people, whether you want to or not. These encounters are necessary in the sense that they may help you network with future supervisors or administrative heads. So if you have to mingle then do it while not upsetting anybody.

Here are a few rules for basic etiquette in the selected areas of dining, drinking and email. Enjoy!

TABLE MANNERS

When to begin. This seems to be one that many people are confused about. The one that says no one eats until all are served. This is simply not true. Once two have been served, you may begin. A friend of mine puts it thus, “When two have seats, all may eat.” I don’t know what the hell that means, but it does put people at ease. In restaurants, this can feel awkward as you wait for the food to come out together. But nevertheless, you would be correct in eating. And your well-mannered companions should insist that you begin. Who wants to eat hot food cold?

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Easiest way to learn how to perform an examination is by actually trying to do one and taking it seriously – not just going through the motions.

Cardiovascular Examination

Respiratory Examination

Presto

Also See:

MOST ESSENTIAL USMLE Step 1 Preparation Textbooks

Supplementary USMLE Book List

Top Cardiology Books

Best 5 Anatomy Books

EKG/ECG Books