Must-Read Books for Medical Professionals

Must-Read Books for Medical Professionals

 

“The books that help you most are those which make you think the most. The hardest way of learning is that of easy reading; but a great book that comes from a great thinker is a ship of thought, deep freighted with truth and beauty.” – Pablo Neruda.

At eMedEvents, we understand that as a medical professional your time is precious.  We want you to explore these beautifully intricate stories that have a blend of fiction and non-fiction elements to them.  They have been written by doctors inspired by their life events and work.

These ten books have all been on The New York Times bestseller list and other renowned bestseller lists.  They have also won several awards such as the National Book Award, Pulitzer Prize, Goodreads Choice Awards, etc. The Must-Read Books for Medical Professionals are:

When Breath Becomes Air- by Paul Kalanithi: This beautiful autobiography is a heartbreaking memoir of Paul Kalanithi, published posthumously by Random House. It includes an epilogue written by Paul Kalanithi’s wife, Lucy, since he died while working on the book. When 36-year old Paul was doing his residency in neurological surgery and a postdoctoral fellowship in neuroscience, he was diagnosed with stage-4 non-small-cell EGFR-positive lung cancer. The book dwells on hard-hitting questions like “What makes a life worth living? What do you do when the future, no longer a ladder toward your goals in life, flattens out into a perpetual present? What does it mean to have a child, to nurture a new life as another fades away?” A must-read book!

Complications: A Surgeon’s Notes on an Imperfect Science- by Atul Gawande: This is a collection of essays written during general surgery residency at Brigham and Women's Hospital by American surgeon Atul Gawande. The book is non-fiction and divided into three segments: Fallibility, Mystery, and Uncertainty which explore the variety of issues physicians face while practicing various medical procedures.

Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End- by Atul Gawande: Another masterpiece written by Atul Gawande.  This is a non-fiction book that follows Gawande’s personal stories intermixed with the current state of end-of-life care for age-related frailty, serious ailments, and impending death.

Pandora’s Lab: Seven Stories of Science Gone Wrong- by Paul A. Offit: This is an engaging book filled with stories about infamous science missteps. Topics such as opium’s popularity as a painkiller which led to opioids becoming a significant cause of death in the U.S., the rise of trans fats as the golden ingredient that later created a heart disease epidemic, and many other intriguing stories.

Quiet: The Power Of Introverts In A World That Can’t Stop Talking- by Susan Cain: This non-fiction book talks about the colossal waste of talent, energy, and happiness of introverted people as western culture fails to identify, understand, and utilize the introvert’s unique gifts and strengths. With at least one-third of people you might know to identify as introverts, Quiet argues how introverts are underestimated and the consequences of this. The book also lists some prominent people who are introverts and how they lead their lives. It is superbly researched and filled with insightful details about introverts.    

Ending Medical Reversal: Improving Outcomes, Saving Lives- by Adam S. Cifu and Vinayak K. Prasad: This book tells the stories about the dark side of science where tests and therapies have been discontinued for good. Medication such as Vioxx and procedures like vertebroplasty were popular for years but later termed dangerous and useless. Dr. Vinayak K. Prasad and Dr. Adam S. Cifu narrate fascinating stories about why medical reversal occurs, the difference between medical innovations that improve care and those that only appear to be promising. Ending Medical Reversal talks about procedures and medicines used without the proper evidence base and what can be done to prevent this.         When the Air Hits Your Brain: Tales from Neurosurgery- by Frank Vertosick, Jr.: This book is filled with fascinating and insightful details of surgical procedures performed by neurologists. It combines humor and sadness and the journey of going from a naïve young neurologist in residence to becoming a world-class neurosurgeon.  A must-read book for everyone.
 This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor- by Adam Kay: This book is a non-fiction collection of diary entries written by Adam Kay during his medical training from 2004-2010. The book gives a preview of political issues pertaining to National Health Services(NHS) in the UK and the social issues between the general public and doctors. It is filled with humor and Kay’s personal anecdotes that showcase his journey from medical training to finally quitting medicine to become a writer.
 In Shock: My Journey from Death to Recovery and the Redemptive Power of Hope- by Rana Awdish: This is a breath-taking and inspiring first-person account of an intensive care doctor, Rana Awdish, who was seven months pregnant when she experiences hemorrhaging, nearly losing all of her blood and her unborn child. The story unravels as her journey of enduring multiple organ failure followed by a series of major surgeries and she went from doctor to patient. Her detailed perspective on the dysfunctions of her profession and the flaws in her past practice as a doctor are showcased in a beautifully well-written manner.
 Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death and Brain Surgery- by Henry Marsh: A magnificently written memoir that depicts a brutal honesty about his work and mismanagement by NHS (National Health Services). As Henry Marsh makes agonizing decisions each day coupled with both urgency and uncertainty, the book details the harrowing moments and triumphs of being in an operating room as one of the country’s leading neurosurgeons.
 

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