And you should read some books! There're informative, they're fun, and they contribute to your education. If you can't find time for extracurricular reading during the semester, take a book or two home for the holidays, on the next honors program trip, or target several for summer reading! Below are some initial sugestions, mostly from the EKU library; many are available in paperback at good bookstores.
A good way to find interesting books is to rummage around the Amazon or Barnes and Noble websites; their search facilities are friendlier than the library's, and there are often helpful reviews that help you judge whether you'd be interested in the book. If you are, you can then see if it's in the library or a local bookstore. For example Amazon reviews, click here or here.
One of the very best ways to enhance your education and expand your mind is simply to READ LOTS OF STUFF! Here's some good stuff, most of it in the EKU library.
Selzer, Richard. The Doctor Stories. Highly acclaimed short stories about doctors and patients by a doctor with a flair for literature. Gives you a "feel" for the practice of medicine.
Stewart, James. Blind Eye: How the Medical Establishment Let a Doctor Get Away with Murder. Well-documented account of a serial-poisoner M.D. who got away with murder in hospitals until 1998 when he was imprisoned on some minor charges; he'll be eligible for release soon.
Bear, Greg. Darwin's Radio. A medical science fiction mystery, involving genetics and molecular biology, with a good dose of drama about investigating a new disease that isn't really a disease.
Lear, Martha. Heartsounds. Biographical. Story of a doctor and his struggle with heart disease and also with the medical profession, written by his wife.
Cantor, Norman. In the Wake of the Plague. Fascinating exploration of the impact of the devastating 14th century Black Death on Europe, especially England, along with the latest medical insights into what the Black Death really was (not just bubonic plague).
Kesey, Ken. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Best-seller that became an Academy Award movie. Weird adventures in a mental hospital.
Davies, Robertson. The Cunning Man. A fascinating novel cast in the form of a maverick physician's memoirs, relates medicine to broader aspects of life. Definitely adult reading! ;-) Davies has several highly acclaimed novels, but the others don't connect to medicine like this one.
Dubos, Rene. The Mirage of Health, plus lots of other health sciences relevant books; several are in the library. He was a world-class microbiologist with a flair for writing well for non-specialists. Anything of his is good; he goes far beyond speaking of microbes!
Roueche, Berton. Eleven Blue Men. Medical detective stories in the sense of tracking down causes and cures of mysterious health problems. Very illuminating.
Sacks, Oliver. The Man Who Mistook his Wife for a Hat. And several other books. Interestingly written tales about extraordinary medical cases, mostly related to his neurology practice.
Cornwell, Patricia. Best-selling mystery novelist. The main character is a female forensic pathologist medical examiner who solves gruesome murders. Medically accurate escapist novels.
Christie, Agatha. The queen of mystery writers. Many of her stories have a medical twist, especially concerning poisons.
Irving, John. The Ciderhouse Rules. An engrossing fairly recent best-seller that provokes a good bit of thought about humane medical care and the nature of morality and moral rules. All his novels have been enormously popular. Son of the Circus is also about a doctor, but it's just pure entertainment. Most of his novels are good reads.
Thomas, Lewis. Lives of a Cell, and Medusa and the Snail, and several other books. Thomas was the longtime editor of the world's top medical journal, and these books are collections of his truly fascinating editorials about science, medicine, and life in general. Nice bedtime reading -- you can finish one of the essays in 10-20 minutes, then dream about it!
Gould, Stephen Jay. The Panda's Thumb; Bully for the Brontosaurus; Hen's Teeth and Horses' Toes; and many others. Gould is another top scientist (palentology) who can communicate interestingly and well with non-specialists. He's a polymath who covers the gamut of modern science and human concerns. Many of his books are collections of essays on a wide variety of topics; just one of them will give you a liberal education!
Sagan, Carl. The Dragons of Eden and many others. Another well-known scientist (astronomer) who writes well for non-specialists. His main concerns are extra-terrestrial intelligence, and the impact of science on human life in general.
Diamond, Jared. The Third Chimpanzee, and Guns, Germs, and Steel. Another scientist (med school prof) whose books "read like novels." The first is about genes and human behavior, the second about the surprizing interactions between disease and human cultures/societies.
Michener, James. Lots of sweeping historical novels,
of a most unusual sort. For getting a feel for the impact of history on
places and people, Michener is unequaled. The Source (Israel); Poland;
Chesapeake;
Texas;
Hawaii;
Alaska;
and others. They have nothing at all to do with health issues!
Back to main menu.