{"id":10787,"date":"2020-04-08T21:04:04","date_gmt":"2020-04-08T21:04:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/insiders\/?p=10787"},"modified":"2020-11-24T11:23:46","modified_gmt":"2020-11-24T11:23:46","slug":"reading-recommendations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/insiders\/reading-recommendations\/","title":{"rendered":"Reading recommendations!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I thought it would be good to have a collection of reading recommendations – tried and tested by current medics at Cardiff across a range of years! This is useful for prospective students looking for some inspiration about medicine and potentially use in a personal statement<\/a>! It is also useful for offer holders + current medics wanting to do some fun summer reading! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I have to say I would definitely recommend Atul Gawande as an author to start with if you’ve never read medical books before! They are just so easy to read, but incredibly engaging and insightful. He has been recommended by a vast number of medics – here are two quotes below! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being Mortal<\/strong>, by Atul Gawande<\/p>“My initial beliefs i.e. doctors \u2018prolong death\u2019 were eradicated when reading this book. It helped me delve deeper into autonomy in medicine and its complexity. I would definitely recommend to someone who, after deeply reflecting on medicine has encountered some of the negatives around the job and would like to see one doctor’s own mistakes and reflections on them. It clears up what the role of a doctor truly entails!”<\/em> – Vera <\/strong>

“<\/strong>Another clich\u00e9 read but one that touches on a subject every doctor must be familiar with. Understanding death is a necessity for becoming a doctor and Gawande explores what we get right and where we need to improve in how we cope with the limitations of medicine.”<\/em> – Faris <\/strong>(Year 5)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Alongside the classic “The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat”, When Breath Becomes Air<\/strong> (Paul Kalanthi) is an incredibly popular book. It is “so touching and emotional because you see the profound effect being a doctor can have on your family.” <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Unnatural Causes<\/strong>, by Dr Richard Shepherd<\/p>“Dr Shepherd is Britain\u2019s leading Forensic Pathologist and he\u2019s known for examining evidence from 9\/11, the 7\/7 terror attacks and the death of Princess Diana. It\u2019s about how he found his love for pathology through medical school and his journey from a student to a pathologist and he recalls some of his biggest cases. I used to watch a Netflix program that had him in it called \u2018Autopsy; How they died\u2019 and that\u2019s how I heard of him! I\u2019m interested in that field so it\u2019s why I like it so much!”<\/em> – Moli<\/strong><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

There have been two recommended books by Professor Stephen Westaby – here are some quotes about these!<\/p>\n\n\n\n