Recommended
Forgive and Remember - Charles Bosk
a must read for aspiring surgeons
The House Of God - Samuel Shem
the classic. a must read for all medical students
Moonwalking With Einstein - Jonathan Foer
medical school is remembering. this will help.
Cheating Death - Sanjay Gupta
will make you rethink what you think you know about death. recommended for all medical students.
The Emperor of All Maladies - Sid Mukherjee
long, drawn out, worthwhile.
read after 2nd year blood/onc course.
The Color of Atmosphere - Maggie Kozel
cures aspirations of primary care
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down - Anne Fadiman
the frustrating intersection of sociology and medicine. a how-not-to guide, reveals the limits of medicine.
Bioethics: A Systematic Approach - Bernard Gert
What little training I've had in medical ethics came from this man. Since he no longer teaches, get the book.
This Will Only Hurt A Bit - Michelle Au
Shows that there is hope, even if you go into the "wrong" specialty. Shows that there is hope, even if you have kids at the "wrong" time. Lots of insight into what makes someone choose a training path and how they pursue it.
AMA: Preparing for years 1-3
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/about-ama/our-people/member-groups-sections/minority-affairs-consortium/transitioning-residency/getting-ready-medical-school-years-1.page
Surprisingly, a website from the AMA that doesn't suck. Worthwhile reading for every medical student because, if you don't at least do the things recommended here, you have no business complaining to anyone else.
The Social Transformation of American Medicine - Paul Starr
Too long by half. Important to understand that Medicine hasn't always been this way. Struggle through what parts of it you can.
On Writing - Steven King
Because, like it or not, we are all writers. Stop using those damn adverbs already.
On My Nightstand
Cutting For Stone - Abraham Verghese
Of Human Bondage - W. Somerset Maugham
The Lady Tasting Tea - David Salzburg
Statistics on the Table - Steve Stigler
Too Obvious to Mention
(read anything by these folks)
Atul Gawande
Oliver Sacks
Abraham Verghese
Edward Tufte