As a child, I was always reading. As is the case for many people, I lost my literary passion in high school and college as my time was taken up by extracurriculars and doomscrolling on my phone. One thing I have thoroughly enjoyed about my gap years between graduation from college and matriculation into medical school is reconnecting with reading. I have read a wide variety of books, but below are my reviews and recommendations for fictional and nonfictional works that may benefit other premedical students.
A Thousand Naked Strangers: A Paramedic’s Wild Ride to the Edge and Back by Kevin Hazard
This memoir takes you on a journey into the streets of Atlanta, Georgia, and the notorious Grady Hospital. Kevin Hazard expertly pairs comic relief with harrowing tales of heroics, tragedies, and survival to give readers a unique look into the life of a paramedic. Any premedical student will benefit from learning about an incredibly important profession within the health care team, and it may inspire, or deter, them from pursuing EMT certification during college or gap years.
The Weight of Air: A Story of the Lies about Addiction and the Truth about Recovery by David Poses
Written by someone who has been through the gauntlet of addiction, this memoir shows that recovery is not linear while exploring social factors of health and the stigmas associated with addiction and mental illness. This book is devastating, inspiring, and gives excellent insight into the thoughts and actions of someone struggling with addiction. Premedical students can gain valuable perspective on a common yet incredibly complex disease while honing their empathy and compassion for future patients struggling with addiction.
At Least You Have Your Health by Madi Sinha
A fun, fictional read that explores current issues that face the medical profession, such as concierge medicine, the dangers of medical misinformation, physician burnout, and the complexities of patient-doctor relationships. This book was entertaining, the characters were relatable, and it raised thought-provoking medical ethical dilemmas. I encourage premedical students to remember that reading is fun and not everything you read needs to be nonfiction and super scientific. For those of us who want an easy, witty, page-turning novel that still includes relevant themes, At Least You Have Your Health is a great choice.
Bad Medicine: Catching New York’s Deadliest Pill Pusher by Charlotte Bismuth
I wanted to like this book more than I did, but I did find the content very interesting. This book follows the investigation and trial of Dr. Li, a pain medicine physician running a corrupt practice where prescriptions were provided in exchange for cash. This book describes the heartbreaking stories of Dr. Li’s patients and their families following overdoses and deaths while detailing the long process that the prosecution underwent during this precedent-setting case. I enjoyed learning about this case and the role of physicians in the opioid epidemic, but I found the writing to be somewhat dry and difficult to follow at times. This book can offer premedical students a better understanding of addiction and how the health care system can enable or prevent future overdoses and deaths.
Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande
This book is so important as we enter the medical profession with an aging population. As a hospice volunteer and a medical assistant who works primarily with a geriatric population, I found this book to be incredibly impactful. Being Mortal talks about aging, death, and dying in a unique way that prioritizes the patient rather than merely prolonging life. This book raises uncomfortable questions and emphasizes the idea that care is often greater than cure. I would encourage any premedical student to read this book to have a better understanding of the aging process and what is important when treating patients who are dying.
Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and the Health of Our Nation by Linda Villarosa
This book dives deep into health disparities in America. It tracks racist themes throughout history and does a great job of showing how these themes persist in modern medicine and society. While dense at times, this book gave me a lot to think about as I enter the medical field. I would recommend this book to any premedical student, particularly white students who may not have as much knowledge regarding the experience of being Black in America.
The Curious Human Knee by Han Yu
I am two chapters deep into this book, and I am hooked. The knee is more complicated than I ever imagined, and Yu does a fantastic job keeping the reader interested as she tracks the evolution of the bipedal knee, the anatomical complexities of the joint, the significance of the knee in fashion, and beyond. Whether you are interested in the field of orthopaedics or just want a better understanding of why the knee is so prone to injury and aches, this is a compelling and interesting read for any premedical student.
Natalie Enyedi is a premedical student.
