Why is it that whenever I ask older students to recommend textbooks, they give me an answer along the lines of “well I liked this book, but this one is good too, and so is that one, and lots of people use this other one, so it’s up to you”? One theory is that we are trained as medical students to present our patients with their options, and to respect their autonomy by allowing them to make their own decisions. If that’s the case, then my autonomy really appreciates the respect guys, but truly … not helpful!

The following is an attempt to put together a definitive list of textbooks to use in the BMed course. Check back here over time as the list will develop into a full set of reviews.

The fundamental question you must ask yourself when you are considering a book to use for your course is not whether it has more facts crammed into it than any other book, whether the diagrams use 24 different colours or only 22, or whether the spine will look impressive on your shelf if you buy it. The question is “WILL I USE IT?” The best textbook is useless if you do not open it. So I, along with the other staff at the UNMS Bookscheme (special mention to Jeram Hyde for his major contribution on the later year texts!), with plenty of feedback and advice from other students, have picked what we think is the best for you to actually pick up, read, and gain from it what you need.

Generally basic texts such as Guyton, Robbins and Rang and Dale have only been included once on this list since it is assumed that by the time you finish first year you know what to use.

FIRST YEAR

Martini, Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology 8th ed

Guyton, Textbook of Medical Physiology 12th ed (due late June)

Kumar, Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease 8th ed

Drake, Gray’s Anatomy for Students 2nd ed

Colledge, Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine 21st ed

Rang, Rang and Dale’s Pharmacology 6th ed

Talley, Clinical Examination: a systematic guide to physical diagnosis 6th ed

Young, Wheater’s Functional Histology: A text and colour atlas 5th ed

Rohen, Colour Atlas of Anatomy 7th ed (due April) OR Abrahams, McMinn’s Clinical Atlas of Human Anatomy 6th ed

Kapit, The Anatomy Coloring Book 3rd ed

Feather, OSCEs for Medical Students Volume 2 2nd ed (Gastro, Neuro&Psych, Opthamology & Otolaryngology, Urology & Renal)

Fletcher, Clinical Epidemiology: The Essentials 4th ed

Gastro

Talley, Clinical Gastroenterology: a practical problem based approach 2nd ed

Renal

Field, Systems of the Body: The Renal System 2nd ed

SECOND YEAR

Cardio

Lilly, Pathophysiology of Heart Disease

Dubin, Rapid Interpretation of EKG’s 6th ed

Resp

Weinberger, Principles of Pulmonary Medicine 5th ed

West, Respiratory Physiology 8th ed AND West, Pulmonary Pathophysiology 7th ed

Haem

Hoffbrand, Essential Haematology

Bain, Beginners Guide to Blood Cells

Endo

Just use Guyton/Robbins/Davidson’s

Neuro

Blumenfeld, Neuroanatomy through Clinical Cases

Morris, Neurology Short Case 2nd ed

Bogduk videos (there’s a dvd containing all 8  floating around)

Psych

Online access to textbooks through library

–

Feather, OSCEs for Medical Students Volume 1 2nd ed (Cardio & Haem, Resp, Rheumatology & Dermatology, Orthopaedics & Trauma)

Feather, OSCEs for Medical Students Volume 2 2nd ed (Gastro, Neuro&Psych, Opthamology & Otolaryngology, Urology & Renal)

Crash Course series

THIRD YEAR

Colledge, Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine 21st ed

Longmore, Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine 8th ed

Toronto Notes

Lecture Notes series

FOURTH YEAR

Surgery

Ellis, Clinical Anatomy

Ellis, Lecture Notes on General Surgery

Blackbourne, Surgical Recall

Williams, Bailey and Love’s Short Practice of Surgery

Medicine

Longmore, Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine 8th ed

Colledge, Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine 21st ed

Toronto Notes

O&G

Campbell, Obstetrics by 10 Teachers 18th ed AND Monga, Gynaecology by 10 Teachers 18th ed

Bourgeois, O&G Recall

Bader, O&G Secrets 3rd ed (updated)

Symonds, Essential Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Paeds

McGahren, Paediatrics Recall 3rd ed

Roberton, Practical Paediatrics 6th ed

Kliegman, Nelsons Essentials of Paeds 5th ed

–

Feather, OSCEs for Medical Students Volume 3 2nd ed (Paeds, O&G, Endocrine & Breast, Ethics & Legal Medicine incl Consent & IV Procedures)

FIFTH YEAR

Should already know all the books you need, but these can be useful

Cadogan, On Call

Senanayake, Common Clinical Cases

If you have any feedback on this list or feel a particularly glaring omission has been made, please send your thoughts to rosanna.olsen

Rosanna Olsen
Academic Convenor