Reading anything other than a textbook can be a great way to relax, and I always have several non-medical books on my reading list. However, you can read for pleasure while still increasing your knowledge and love for medicine. There are innumerable fiction and non-fiction books written by medical doctors or about medicine, ranging from short stories about life as a surgeon to a summary of the Affordable Care Act to poetry written by a pediatrician. Reading books like these might help reaffirm your desire to study medicine, help you better understand a certain specialty, or cause you to reconsider something you’ve always thought. Medical doctors often write great books because they have great stories to tell – reminding us that medicine is, if nothing else, a fascinating part of life![Side note: I have personally found that reading for pleasure even during school has been a great way to relax and get my mind off of my studies for a little bit every day. 15-30 minutes of pleasure reading always helps recharge me, and reading some of the great stories of medicine helps remind me that what I’m doing is important, and often puts what I’m learning in a bigger context.]The following list of books contains only books that I’ve read (except where noted). If you’re interested in reading ‘medical’ books, I still recommend reading books that sound interesting to you – that way, your pleasure reading won’t start to feel like an assignment.
Fiction:
When Crickets Cry – a novel set in Georgia about a heart transplant surgeon. This book is a great reminder of how medicine can help heal people spiritually as well as physically, and how patients can impact doctors too. Read my full review here!
Love in the Ruins – this dystopian novel by Walker Percy follows a doctor on his journey to find out why people are broken physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and how to treat their problems at the roots, not just their symptoms.
Lethal Remedy – realistic fiction about the ethics of care, which examines major themes of finances and motivations in medicine.
The Doctor Stories – a collection of short stories and poetry about medicine in the mid-twentieth century by William Carlos Williams. Dr. Williams was a famous American poet and this collection highlights his works relating to his career as a pediatrician.
The Country Doctor Revisited – This collection of fiction, nonfiction, essays and poetry focuses on rural medicine in the twenty-first century: difficulties and challenges; changes in finances, insurance, and technology; and the sacrifice and dedication of rural physicians to their patients above all else.
Nonfiction:
Hot Lights, Cold Steel – this book explore the fascinating journey of Michael Collins through his residency in orthopedic surgery; this book is about the work required to make it as a doctor, but an encouraging reminder that there are always people there to help and that it can be an amazingly satisfying career.
Becoming a Doctor – this collection of short stories by medical students, residents and doctors covers a breadth of topics. Although the stories have a variety of subjects, their message is uniform: becoming a doctor is challenging, but absolutely worth it.
Better – Atul Gawande is one of the most famous contemporary physician-writers; in this book, he intertwines his thoughts on modern medicine and healthcare with fascinating personal anecdotes about life as a surgeon.
Complications – This Gawande book also tells great surgical vignettes; in addition, the author explores many of the difficulties doctors face, ranging from in-procedure omplications to broader healthcare issues.
God’s Hotel – this is a story about a unique hospital in San Francisco, which treats everyone regardless of background or finances. Dr. Sweet speaks on the philosophy and history of medicine and offers wonderful insights into the value of healthcare as a service-oriented profession.
The Emperor of All Maladies – Dr. Mukherjee’s expansive history of cancer won the Pulitzer Prize for a reason; this book is an engaging account of cancer research and its impact on public health. Check out my full review here!
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat* – although I have not yet read this one, it is on my own summer reading list due to a growing number of recommendations. In it, Dr. Sacks tells the riveting stories of patients he has encountered with interesting psychological abnormalities. Besides being full of great stories, this book breaches the often silent topic of mental illness and its great needs.
Mountains Beyond Mountains* – I have not read this one yet either, but plan to soon; Tracy Kidder’s biography of Dr. Paul Farmer, a famous medical missionary to South America, is a Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times Best Seller. This is a recommended read for anyone interested in global health, medical missions, and international medicine.
This list is only a fraction of the vast amount of books by and about doctors of medicine; I am sure that no matter your interest, there’s already a book about it! As I already indicated, reading is a great way to refresh yourself and can be a great reminder of why you want to be a doctor. I have certainly found this to be true for me, and I often pull out a new book whenever I’m feeling burnt out or weighted down by school. Have a favorite medical book that you love that I didn’t include here? Tweet me some of your recommendations @brentschnipke. I’m always looking for new reads. Most importantly, take time for yourself this summer – getting some sun, exercising more, building your CV, reading some great books – and hopefully you will be inspired by medicine in a new way.
Fiction:
When Crickets Cry – a novel set in Georgia about a heart transplant surgeon. This book is a great reminder of how medicine can help heal people spiritually as well as physically, and how patients can impact doctors too. Read my full review here!
Love in the Ruins – this dystopian novel by Walker Percy follows a doctor on his journey to find out why people are broken physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and how to treat their problems at the roots, not just their symptoms.
Lethal Remedy – realistic fiction about the ethics of care, which examines major themes of finances and motivations in medicine.
The Doctor Stories – a collection of short stories and poetry about medicine in the mid-twentieth century by William Carlos Williams. Dr. Williams was a famous American poet and this collection highlights his works relating to his career as a pediatrician.
The Country Doctor Revisited – This collection of fiction, nonfiction, essays and poetry focuses on rural medicine in the twenty-first century: difficulties and challenges; changes in finances, insurance, and technology; and the sacrifice and dedication of rural physicians to their patients above all else.
Nonfiction:
Hot Lights, Cold Steel – this book explore the fascinating journey of Michael Collins through his residency in orthopedic surgery; this book is about the work required to make it as a doctor, but an encouraging reminder that there are always people there to help and that it can be an amazingly satisfying career.
Becoming a Doctor – this collection of short stories by medical students, residents and doctors covers a breadth of topics. Although the stories have a variety of subjects, their message is uniform: becoming a doctor is challenging, but absolutely worth it.
Better – Atul Gawande is one of the most famous contemporary physician-writers; in this book, he intertwines his thoughts on modern medicine and healthcare with fascinating personal anecdotes about life as a surgeon.
Complications – This Gawande book also tells great surgical vignettes; in addition, the author explores many of the difficulties doctors face, ranging from in-procedure omplications to broader healthcare issues.
God’s Hotel – this is a story about a unique hospital in San Francisco, which treats everyone regardless of background or finances. Dr. Sweet speaks on the philosophy and history of medicine and offers wonderful insights into the value of healthcare as a service-oriented profession.
The Emperor of All Maladies – Dr. Mukherjee’s expansive history of cancer won the Pulitzer Prize for a reason; this book is an engaging account of cancer research and its impact on public health. Check out my full review here!
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat* – although I have not yet read this one, it is on my own summer reading list due to a growing number of recommendations. In it, Dr. Sacks tells the riveting stories of patients he has encountered with interesting psychological abnormalities. Besides being full of great stories, this book breaches the often silent topic of mental illness and its great needs.
Mountains Beyond Mountains* – I have not read this one yet either, but plan to soon; Tracy Kidder’s biography of Dr. Paul Farmer, a famous medical missionary to South America, is a Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times Best Seller. This is a recommended read for anyone interested in global health, medical missions, and international medicine.
This list is only a fraction of the vast amount of books by and about doctors of medicine; I am sure that no matter your interest, there’s already a book about it! As I already indicated, reading is a great way to refresh yourself and can be a great reminder of why you want to be a doctor. I have certainly found this to be true for me, and I often pull out a new book whenever I’m feeling burnt out or weighted down by school. Have a favorite medical book that you love that I didn’t include here? Tweet me some of your recommendations @brentschnipke. I’m always looking for new reads. Most importantly, take time for yourself this summer – getting some sun, exercising more, building your CV, reading some great books – and hopefully you will be inspired by medicine in a new way.
Brent Schnipke, MD is a physician and writer based in Dayton, OH. He graduated medical school in 2018 and completed his psychiatry residency at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine. He currently practices in Dayton, OH. His professional interests include medical humanities, mental health, and medical education.