Reviews (4)

Hard hitting advice. Much truth.
I am definitely a non-traditional student. This book has taught me many things I would have never known about. Like the fact that I should volunteer, be a leader in school clubs, etc, etc. I haven't applied to med-school yet, but I definitely know more about what it does take to get in.

it really worked twice.
I gave this book to my daughter in the middle of her freshman year. She was a premed major and did not do very well her first term. after reading the book she changed her major, became a volunteer EMT, did research and joined a women's Rugby team at school. These positioning steps resulted in her being admitted to medical school early in her junior year. She is now a third year medical student and attributes the book to getting in.

we then gave the book to a family friend whos daughter had good grades but did poorly on the mcats. after reading the book and following the sugestions she was accepted by 4 medical schools.

The book really worked, twice.It is best to read thye book in your Freshman year.

To many mistakes
Now that I have made it I can tell you that this book had many mistakes. It doesn't give information on the different schools and the phone numbers that they do give were wrong. The advice on course selection was wrong as well. It devotes half a page to the MCAT and I can tell you this test is worth more than half a page of commentary.

Hard hitting practical advice, very well written.
Getting your kid into a good college is a nerve-racking process for most parents. It certainly has been for us. We have found the customer reviews in Amazon very helpful. That prompts us to distill our ratings of the various guidebooks.

Our daughter (heaven help her) wants to become a physician. Right now she is applying to college, but this book was very helpful in focusing her college choices, as well as realizing what kind of effort will be expected of her should she be successful in getting into medical school. Much of this review is about the college process, but this book is useful for seniors in high school as well as seniors in college.

The best short reference on each college is the Princeton Review of The Best (311) Colleges. It gives ratings of academic quality, difficulty of admission, percentage admitted, etc. There is also a brief summary of college life and what each place might be looking for.

Peterson Guide is comprehensive, and has long write-ups for each school. There is a front section for each school, listed alphabetically within each state, and a back section with detailed profiles of selected institutions.

Fiske's guide is interesting, but he basically has something good to say for each school, so careful reading between the lines and for "damning with faint praise" is called for.

The Yale Insider's Guide is extremely subjective, with different students writing various reviews. We did not find it too reliable, except in conjunction with other books.

Likewise for Barrron's Guide to the Most Competitive Colleges. Recent alumni write of their (invariably positive) experiences. Take it with a grain of salt, or read carefully between the lines.

Choosing the Right College by ISN was extremely helpful. Some readers criticized it for being allegedly right wing. We did not find it so. Rather, knowing the point of view of the authors helped us evaluate their observations. Other books do not make their biases explicit. A feature of the book we found particularly helpful was the naming of excellent professors and departments in each college.

Antonoff's College Finder was interesting only in conjunction with other books.

Three books written from the perspective of college admissions officers were very interesting and helpful. They are The College Admissions Mystique, by Mayher, Getting In, by Bill Paul, and most of all A is for Admission by Michelle Hernandez. We strongly recommend that parents and the kids who are the applicants read at least one of these.

Another very helpful book was You're Gonna Love This College Guide, by Marty Nemko. It takes the student through the decision process of big vs. small, urban vs. country, elite vs. the level just below, geography, and so forth. That really got our daughter unstuck in her thinking process.

Loren Pope is another helpful author for those who think that not getting into Harvard is the end of the world.

Three books we did not find to be particularly helpful are Getting Into Any College, by Jim Good and Lisa Lee, The National Review College Guide, by Charles Sykes and Brad Miner (too out of date), and The Real Freshman Handbook, by Jennifer Hanson.

One book we found to be unexpectedly useful was Getting Into Medical School Today, by Scott Plantz, et. al. Even if your child is not interested in medical school, this book puts college in perspective for any post-college program.

We hope readers find our review helpful. ... Read more

Book Description

This comprehensive and reader-friendly text covers neurology in the context of basic science. Offering a practical outline format to clarify concepts, it presents clinical relationships in chapters on normal structure and function, and devotes extensive coverage to neurology-related material in the chapters on the neurological examination and neurological disorders. Important information is emphasized through the liberal use of tables, information boxes, margin notes and numerous figures, including an MRI-based atlas. Questions at the end of each chapter and a chapter on case-based problem solving exercises provide further reinforcement and emphasis of important concepts. An extensive glossary of nearly 700 items provides convenient access to definitions and descriptions. ... Read more

Book Description

The fifth edition of this essential guide was created for both novice grantseekers who need instruction on how to begin the process and seasoned grantseekers who want to learn new techniques to save time and increase success. Revisions and additions reflect the enormous changes and challenges that have occurred in the grants marketplace since the fourth edition was published in 1999. ... Read more

Book Description

As a follow up and review book to Dr. Robert Taylor's highly successful FAMILY MEDICINE: PRINCIPALS AND PRACTICE, TAYLOR'S FAMILY MEDICINE REVIEW will become an indespensible study guide for family practice residents preparing for certification exams, practioners preparing for recertification and medical students during their family practice clerkship. Complete with over 1,200 questions drawn directly from and keyed to FAMILY MEDICINE, this question and answer book will provide an extensive review all the issues confronted by family practitioners in clinical practice. ... Read more

Book Description

Case Studies in Community Health presents 14 classroom-tested case study scenarios, including background information and discussion questions. Written for students in public health and community health courses, these cases help integrate the basic concepts of public health into an applied setting. The case studies provide an opportunity for students to apply those basic concepts to a "real-life" situation. The overall purpose of the book is to help students understand that public health practice occurs in a social context and therefore is subject to all the complexities of a social environment. The cases explore a broad range of topics in three critical areas of public health: epidemiology, health administration, and health program planning.

This text will be of interest students and professionals in family studies, family therapy, gerontology, health communication, medical sociology, nursing, nursing administration, nursing health, nursing research and theory, patient care, public administration, public health, quantitative research and methods, school counseling, social work, and sociology.

A brief instructor’s web page addressing problem-based learning and providing additional information concerning the cases for instructors adopting Case Studies in Community Health is available at www.sagepub.com/instructor_fairbanks.htm

Amazon.com

Gently dismantling the myth of medical infallibility, Dr. Atul Gawande's Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science is essential reading for anyone involved in medicine--on either end of the stethoscope. Medical professionals make mistakes, learn on the job, and improvise much of their technique and self-confidence. Gawande's tales are humane and passionate reminders that doctors are people, too. His prose is thoughtful and deeply engaging, shifting from sometimes painful stories of suffering patients (including his own child) to intriguing suggestions for improving medicine with the same care he expresses in the surgical theater. Some of his ideas will make health care providers nervous or even angry, but his disarming style, confessional tone, and thoughtful arguments should win over most readers. Complications is a book with heart and an excellent bedside manner, celebrating rather than berating doctors for being merely human.--Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (61)

A "Must Read" Written By A Harvard Surgeon
If you have ever been a surgical patient, or expect you might become one in the future, I highly recommend that you read Dr. Atul Gawande's "Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science". If you are a medical student, I highly recommend that you read the book twice - once for you and then again for your patients.

Gawande, as a seventh year Harvard surgical resident, offers reflective insight regarding his observations and experience as a surgeon. From failed attempts to insert a central line as a new resident, to his pride of attending his first medical conference with more senior house personnel, readers easily share in his frustrations, delights, and challenges.

This book will encourage you to appreciate the ethical dilemmas surgeons face as they evaluate new procedures and self-police their own performance and that of their peers. Gawande reveals that even surgeons are mystified by the amazing human body and sometimes cannot explain how or why our bodies react the way they do to surgery.

This book should not be mistaken for a gruesome account of risky surgical procedures performed late at night by sleepy-eyed residents. Gawande's descriptions of his patients and their surgical cases are detailed, but he provides them as intellectual case-in-points rather than the yellow journalism of blood and guts shown on TV and in the movies.

This book will make you think...sometimes harder than you want to...it may even make you realize that surgery is not perfect and neither are even the best surgeons.

A real page turner and a fast read. Don't cheat yourself by skipping over this one!

Essay Collection from Surgeon, New Yorker author
This book is basically a collection of essays Gawande has published in the New Yorker, where he is a staff writer, along with a few from Slate. His writing style is similar to that of Malcolm Gladwell, Jerome Groopman, and other New Yorker authors of the David Remnick era - intelligent and clear.

Gawande is a surgical resident, so he is experienced enough to have insight into the medical profession and practices of surgeons, but still new enough in the field to bring a keen critical mind and the clarity of a relative outsider's perspective. Also, his compassion is one of his distinct qualities and shines through in the writing.

If you are a regular New Yorker reader, you probably have already read all of these essays. The brilliant essay about why doctors make mistakes is included, as well as memorable essays about when good doctors go bad, and how the practice of autopsy goes in and out of fashion. The only one that was new to me was the one about a surgeons' convention, which was entertaining but not crucial reading. It is nice to have them all in once place, but unless you are a completist or a rabid Gawande fan, I'd recommend getting it from the library or waiting for the paperback.

Excellent
This book was on my "suggested" reading list for my first year of medical school. I was dreading this list, so I started with this book first. I was extremely surprised to find this book easy to read, entertaining, and enlightening. I managed to read it in less than a day, and it left me with many impression on what to really expect when I undergo my training as a physician and beyond when I am really going to be expected to be a machine.

Complications
One must think to themselves whether or not they trust the man behind the mask. Before reading this book I had never given second thought as to putting my life in my doctor's hands, however that quickly changed.

In the book COMPLICATIONS: A SURGEON'S NOTES ON AN IMPERFECT SCIENCE by Atul Gawande many successes and failures are explored through out his journey as a surgical resident. These stories are interesting as well as informational. As a person in the emergency medical field as well I realized that I see things on a daily basis that parallel the experience as a resident. This book contains multiple essays written by Gawande and it is an easy read if you can stomach the gruesome details. I would recommend this book to anyone especially those in a health care field.

Without failures, there are no successes.
Atul Gawande's book Complications: A surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science is a gruesomely descriptive account of the path to becoming a good doctor through the successes and failures of being a medical resident. To those with weak stomachs, this book can be difficult to read at times. However, it shows the true humanism of even the most trusted in society. Without failures, there are no successes.

The book begins by describing a trauma incident, involving a young man who had been shot. He was hooked up to a catheter when it was discovered that he was internally bleeding, so he was told that he needed immediate surgery. He was put under, and his chest was opened up. The surgeons looked for a hole or excess blood in his bladder or rectum. What was found? Nothing. Not even a bullet was found. About a week later, a bullet was found in a completely different spot than where it had entered. How can one, as a surgeon, explain this rare phenomenon? Sometimes there are mistakes or misjudgments, and other times there are just bizarre occurrences.

The book is beneficial to read, since all people are patients at one time or another in life. Yes, with successes in medicine, there can always be strange and rare mistakes. However, through reading this book, one can learn that being educated about their health and asking questions no matter how trivial is not only beneficial to the patient; it is beneficial to the resident. This book forces us to nurture an understanding between the doctor and the patient, even in times of trouble. No one wants to be the patient that the resident is "practicing on," but how can we have experienced doctors if no risks are taken? ... Read more

Book Description

Blackwell’s Underground Clinical Vignettes: Anatomy, 3rd edition is your primary source for clinically relevant, case-based material essential for Step 1 review.Each Clinical Vignette presents approximately 100 cases with over 1000 classic buzzwords in Hx, PE, lab, imaging, pathology and treatment.

The revised editions contain: · High-yield updates to nearly every case· Links to Basic Science and Clinical Science Color Atlas · New Cases on commonly tested USMLE topics ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Clinical case scenarios of OB/Gyn
This book gives you 53 major cases of Obstetrics and Gynecology as one of the Underground Clinical Vignettes series. Obviously, this book alone is not enough to prepare for USMLE Step 2, but the great thing about this book is that it really focus on the disease and keywords that actually appear in the exam (e.g. vaginitis, OCP, amenorrhea, eclampsia etc). You pick up this book, see any of the scenario and if you cannot guess the diagnosis by reading through the history and findings, or any of the highlighted keywords on the scenario is unfamiliar to you, you need to buy this book. If you can, forget about this series, and work on simulated tests.

Not useful
In my experience, this book was not helpful for Step 1 preparation. Partly because Behavioral Sciences is not heavily tested in the exam and clinical vignettes are time consuming. Also, I felt that by studying a standard review book alone, I was able to remember the distinguishing aspects of each disease. However I am sure there are many people who would find this book useful.

Don't bother
This is the worst book of the series and is a waste of time. Pharmacology cannot be taught by clinical vignettes and the author himself recognizes this. In the book review section of First Aid, Dr. Bhushan admits that it is not an ideal review source. The problem is that within two lines of the clinical vignette, the drug is revealed, so there is no chance to guess the answer. There are less time consuming ways to learn the side effects of drugs.

Excellent for USMLE prep
All three of the PathoPysiology books of the Clinical Vignettes series are excellent review books for pre-clinical students taking Step 1. Many questions on the exam are asked from a clinical standpoint. For IMGs who have clinical experience before taking Step 1, these books are less useful. However, they are still good to review unusual diseases. Since Pathology is so heavily tested in Step 1, these books are a good investment for anyone preparing for Step 1.

One of the best of the series
I found this book very helpful in forming a clinical picture in my mind for all those confusing biochemical diseases. I felt this was one of the best books of this series. It is good to use after reviewing the subject. This book is not sufficient on its own and should be used as an adjunct to a standard review book. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Don't bother with this one
Dentistry is the epitomy of aesthetics and sport, the last frontier of plate tectonics if you will. To expect anything other than pure tooth decay from an uncertified mouth doc is being severly optimistic and outright outlandish. Prefer to go to school if you're able, and take a look at a few books if you have the time. This particular specimin can only be valued for its list of third world dentistry schools for the super dunces who have their hearts set on drilling and filling for the rest of their lives. Ougadougu University in Burkina Faso does have a top rate program, unfortunately in this country they still perform vivisection, and for dentists, that means no laughing gas and no skull models, you get a live student for your entire studies. If you accidentally kill him or her you must pay a small fee. Schools to steer clear of are La Universidad Del Diente de Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Lake Baikal School of Dentistry and Horse Medicine, The Skojpe Institute for Cosmetology and Dental Technology, and NYU.
If you are not a good student and are planning to open an denists office in a low income neighborhood, school and certification might not be the right choice for you. The bottom line to any dental degree is that its a pain in the ass, expensive, and extremely boring,and certification is just a safety net, especially in the ghetto, where the surgeon general could really give a damn about what's going on.
Just don't do anything stupid like sell lizards out of your office.

An easy read but not very useful
This book is an easy read, however, much of the information is out of date. The book was written in 1999 and many things have changed since then. Also, the author has never applied to dental school and therefore doesn't really explain the ins and outs of the dental school application process. If you want to get accepted to dental school, check out the Ultimate Dental School Admission Guide instead at www.dentalschooladmission.com Just my 2 cents.

help guide
There is some information in this book that you might find helpful if you have other books to fill in the gaps. I found that this book was written with the assumption that the DAT in identical to the MCAT. (IT ISN"T!!!!!) She tells you to study stuff that won't be on the DAT....(e.g physics, discribes the process of testing as though it was also the same as MCAT.)
I wouldn't recommend this book if it is the only book you are going to buy. But if you just want to get an idea of what might be needed, then it will lead you in the general direction.

So-so
While at the bookstore, I took a break from filling out applications and this was the only book that they carried which was created specifically for dental school applicants.

The book is easy to read, but I didn't find it very useful. The information in there is pretty basic and generic, nothing that most people don't already know about how to get into school (ie - observe at a dentist's office, keep your grades up, do well on the DAT). On the plus side, the book does cover some studying tips, and in the back there are blank pages to record your own application process.

I would recommend that you peruse the book if you happen to fall upon it at the book store -- I've seen it at several around town. However, I wouldn't recommend purchasing it unless you are looking for some elementary guidance.

Overall Good Book
This book was excellent with the respect that clearly illustrates how to be sucessfull with the all importnat interview. The book also gives some good tips on how to be a good student as well as how to manage ones budget will in school. ... Read more

Book Description

In one, easy-access loose-leaf manual, the Dieticians Patient Education Resource Manual supplies totally up-to-date dietary guidance on over 40 essential nutrition topics, from health eating for specific population groups (women, children and older adults) to weight management and cardiovascular fitness, to diet related health conditions such as gastrointestinal disorders, kidney disease, diabetes and more.You get: Ready-to-copy nutrition handouts-all specially designed for patients with limited reading ability A choice of English or Spanish language versions of each handout A choice of two low levels of literacy (third and sixth grade) for most handoutsBy copying these forms from the loose-leaf volume, or printing them from the companion CD-ROM on your computer, you can: Quickly and easily reinforce verbal instructions given during the patients visit Provide your patients and their families with a quick reference that can be taken home Motivate patients to achieve improved self-care and compliance Document the patient education your supply with our Tracking Form by including it in the patients file Stay up-to-date in the latest nutrition strategies with annual updates from leading nutrition expertsDieticians Patient Education Resource Manual lets you quickly and easily create customized patient handouts to address specific health or nutrition needs.Just slip the handy companion CD-ROM into your computer and you can instantly generate a customized patient education handout.Add to the existing textadd individualized instructionsor tailor the forms with slip art or your facilitys logo or contact information.The options are limitless and the effort required is minimal.For Orders and Inquiries, please call: 1-888-427-5800. ... Read more

Book Description

This book is the most complete source on over 75 of the nation's Medical School Early Admission Programs. These programs allow informed and motivated students to apply directly to medical school while also applying to colleges from high school. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great book
The book helped me get into medical school after I complted dental school. I would not have received interviews without them because my GPA is low. All the open interviews commented on my essay. I was referred to this book from Medical Help Network. I'm in debted to my books for life!

I liked it.
I read both books available on the topic, Ilyas's as well as Raju/Yanofski's. I thought both were good but very different. Raju/Yanofski's had nice background and candidate profile info. But Ilyas's book was great because it basically only dealt with the application process and had a great list of programs and their info in the back. I've been to the AMA site and I didn't see as many programs as Ilyas's book had.

Good book
The good thing about this book is the long list of programs in the back of the book. I've tried for a long time to find a list of programs that complete. Also, I thought the book was easy to read and had some great advice.

Best one so far.
Although the "From High School to Med. School" book was well written, it didn't have any specifics. Ilyas's book was more to the point, also well written, but had a great index in the back with details on a ton of programs. I thought I knew of a bunch of these programs but there appears to be many more.

Must Read!
This book is a great resource for any HS student even thinking about becoming a doctor. It answers alot of questions and give's you the inside scoop on programs that most people don't know about. This book will give you the edge that most students don't have. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This book is the best .
I am a medical assistant student in a community college in New York. This is the text book that we are using in our classroom. We love this book it is easy to use and understant. I will use it as a referent when I graduate. ... Read more

Book Description

The Insider's Guide to Medical School Admissions answers the critical questions asked by students who are considering becoming doctors. The author, R. Stephen Toyos, M.D., offers a unique perspective on gaining admission and succeeding in medical school. He has gone through the process as a student and also as a teacher, adviser, and school representative. All the insight and advice is gathered from discussions with students, counselors, administrators, and doctors. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Very helpful
I found this book to be the most helpful. It takes you step by step through the admissions process. The worksheet on how the schools grade your application was great and was not found in any of the other books. I have read the chapters on succeeding in medical school and it is a great read. I have told all my undergrad friends to buy the book.

Two thumbs up.
I'm in my second year of undergraduate school, and I would love to go to medical school afterwards. I'm not your typical student as I waited about 5 years before starting college. I wanted a book that could answer all of the common and not so common questions regarding entrance into medical school. I skimmed through much of the book when I first got it, and there are some work sheets that allow you to give yourself points on various activities/grades/etc. The author gives suggestions on how many medical schools to apply to based on your score. Since I never received any rewards, and I was not your outstanding high school student, I need all the help I can get. If you are looking for ways to help you get into medical school, and the do's and don'ts of the interview, then I'd suggest you check this book out. It's worth the $$ for referrence. It even tells you how to give a physical !

Admission book
I was recommended this book from medicalhelpnet.com. I really thought it was a good buy. It was concise without being too redundant. I also like the essay books on Amazon.

get it
I bought all the books and wound up using this one the most. The interview section was right on the money. I was asked questions verbatum from the book. I did read one review stating that the information was to basic. The sample mcat is worth the price of the book alone and there was nothing basic about it. Get this book.

Overgeneralized, Not helpful to anyone seriously applying
If you as a premed know nothing, I mean nothing about the medical school admissions process, then this book can be used for a start. I found it to be lacking of original information. The author's attempts to full the books pages is obvious. Simple test to see if you need this book. -----Do you know what the MCAT is (yes or no). If "no" you need this book, if "yes" you do not. This book skims the most basic of basic admissions info. ... Read more

Book Description

Get the latest information on the USMLE Step 1 exam based on student experience from 1999 exam

Known for high-yield facts that are right on the mark and student-to-student feedback, First Aid for the USMLE Step 1, has been an invaluable resource for medical students taking the exam. Thousands of students contributed with feedback and suggestions to make this the number one test prep for USMLE!

The only study guide that gets RIGHT-TO-THE-POINT, First Aid offers high-yield facts and reviews that really work. Here are just some features:

* Over 900 FREQUENTLY TESTED FACTS and useful MNEMONICS with over 50 new diagrams and illustrations.

* Hundreds of HIGH-YIELD CLINICAL VIGNETTE topics highlight key areas of basic science and clinical material that flow with the actual exam

* Year 2000 RATINGS GUIDE FOR HUNDREDS OF EXAM PREP BOOKS gets you to the BEST BOOKS FAST.

"This book is like having a secret weapon."

"I used First Aid to study for my 1st year courses. It helped to focus and keep me from drowning in details."

"An excellent study guide with more information than you think. Advise people not to save reading First Aid until the end."

"First Aid is particularly useful for foreign graduates who would otherwise have no chance to learn this information." ... Read more

Reviews (47)

Key source for step 1
Definitely the key source for step 1 preparation but as the authors say: it should not be the only source of preparation.
Molecular biology and genetics should have a separate section in the review section as they are heavily tested in the actual exam. Otherwise very good and concise presentation of high yield facts. Do not forget to practice questions which are most similar to the real thing in NMS or on Kaplan website.
Careful with rating of book recommendation.
Better to make up your own mind.
Good luck.

This book is MONEY for Step 1
I worked hard through out my first two years of Medical school. We even started studying early for the boards. However when crunch time came and there was a limited amount of time for review I used First Aid. I got the score I wanted and felt like I was prepared for 99% of the questions I had on the boards. If you can use this book during your course work-DO IT! What I did was made flash cards from this book and quized myself. I also used this along with the Clinical Vignettes which were awesome as well.

Dr.Claudio A.G.Monteiro Filho
This is so funny I bought a copy of the FA book 2003 and looking at it and comparing it to the 2002 version I saw that all the mistakes where corrected...
I had the 2002 version, which was fraught with mistakes...?
As there were many mistakes on the 2002 version of the book in the different subjects areas.
At least the ones that I had come across while attempting to read it...
Now the question is:
How come step1 had
Some mistakes Like that?
I mean being so popular and all...
What a shame...
It had mistakes in Path; biochemistry and so forth and so on...
Thanks God that the 2003 edition of the book which has so many of these necessary corrections; that drove me crazy thinking that they were meant to be at one time or another...
It was driving me paranoid...lol
which was fraught with mistakes...?
I had never seen a First Aid edition book
with so many mistakes as the 2002 version had...
Thx for your time.
Dr.Claudio A.G.Monteiro Filho
Recife,Pernambuco.
Brasil
South America.

Great book
I found this book highly useful for the usmle step 1. It summarized the topics in a reader friendly format. It helped me to study for the test without carrying so many textbooks around with me. I also recommend the following which is sold on amazon:
Spinal Anatomy Study Guide: Key Review Questions and Answers
ISBN: 0971999600
Microbiology Study Guide: Key Review Questions and Answers ISBN: 0971999635

The last 2 study guides showed me the kind of topics that were asked on portions of the USLME step 1. You can't go wrong with these 3 books.

A must, along with BRS Pathology and QBank
I wouldn't recommend reading this book 6 times cover to cover as the guy below me did, but it's definitely a must for Step I. Good images, great high yield info, wonderful index, great buzz-word association section, and helpful reviews of other medical texts at the end. You're making a big mistake if you don't pick this one up... if you have the time (and the lack of social life) to read this book cover to cover 6 times, more power to you... if you get through it once, more power to you. A must! ... Read more

Book Description

An outline review of medicine. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

#1 Med Text
I love this book. I used it in my second year for pathophys and used it again during third year. The book is very concise and easy to read. I went throught his book about a total of four times leading up to my exam and aced it. THe earlier you start using it, 2nd year, the better off you'll be.

A book with a peculiar style
NMS Medicine is a book which has its own peculiar style that is a reflection of some of the other NMS books as well. The students have tried to master this book over the past few years because it is concise and has alot of MCQ's in the USMLE format.But now it has become very much evident that the book is not very helpful for USMLE because of unnecessary emphasis on low yield subjects and missing out on some of the high yeild material ,moreover many students find it very difficult to memorize the material presented in the book because of the one two three format which breaks the continuity of the text.

Excellent for cardilogy reveiw
If you want to do well in USMLE step 2/step3 the cardiology section of this book is your best bet,as it x-rays the very silient points you need to answer the exam test. This book is excellent overall, but may be boring to go through. Read the cardiology section and you will love yourself for taking this advise and buying the book.

Not as other books of NMS series!
After reading NMS surgery , i really trusted NMS series as review book for boards and end of clinical rotation exam. During my pediatrics rotaion i bought NMS pediatrics and start to notice the differences between the books of this series. But when i read NMS Medicine, i felt like reading newspaper about medicine! it is very boring and dry. It is not usfull (at all!!) for your medicine rotation since it doesn't give you management plan. The heamatolgy and neurology chapters are the worse, but i should say that it contains good respiratory diseases chapter. At the beginning of each chapter, there is introduction about history taking and clinical examination, which i used to skip when i satart to read any chapter! because it is wasting of time, it does not inculde the important points. For board review i suggest you to search for another book!

What i understand after i read this book is that the author is very talkative and boring!!

Excellent for third year clinical then follow up for USMLE 2
I found this book a valuable tool for my core and electives in Medicine. Once prepareing for the USMLE step 2 it was easy to read the book for the second and somtimes in certain sections a third time. I found it valuable and am now purchasing a copy for my girlfriend who is entering her third year as well. ... Read more