Which is the best book for understanding medicine?
Theory Medicine
Primary source : Davidson / class notes (Marrow Rakesh Nair sir - best, DAMS, Bhatiya, Marwahsir are good too). Primary source means you need to read it word to word and revise every time. A day before exam it's only thing to look for.
Reference : Harrison. Read only tables and figures. Flowchart and Treatment plans. Nothing can substitute it… and entire Harrison is too vast, but completing this is practically possible! Add everything in your notes , what you read extra. Davidson is small book - just check it, don't fell fearsome with name.
Other books available : Mathew : Good bet if you have only 20 days to prepare medicine. But please don't read it if you are starting. Baloor is same. Mudit Khanna or Deepk Marwah (book, not notes) are mcq books. Not enough to pass final year.
Surgery
Primary source : Best is any MCQ book (surgery essence or surgery sixer) supplemented by Bailey. SRB can be a good option. Naseem is good for GIT-GUT, but have so many wrong information. I haven't find any notes enough for suregey - book is must.
Reference : Again, Bailey is a big name only, not so big book. It's not possible to revise it many times, but you can read it once. Add good extra points in your primary source. If you can't understand anything or have doubt, go for Sabiston only - Geeta of surgery for UGs.
Other books : Naseem, Manipal, Das… They have information and easy to understand but have so many mistakes that it can't help you next year while PG preparation! Can help in last moments to pass!
Obstetrics
Primary source : Dutta. It's must read book. Atleast tables and flow charts. In other points, Sakshi Arora mam's mcq book is enough. If you are preparing for PG, go for Sakshi Arora + Tables and charts of Dutta.
Gynecology
Primary source : Sakshi Arora. Mam has covered more than 90% of information needed. It's enough.
Reference : Shaw gynecology. It's a textbook. You can read to understand a frw hard concepts! Dutta is not good for gynecology!
For last moments, preparatory manual from Punti Bhojani can help in passing!
Pediatrics
Primary source : Ghai. Only book available and as new edition came recently, it's good.
Added : Taruna Mehra pediatrics is very good concised book. But only for review. Not enough to pass theory paper.
So best approach, read Neonatology whole chapter and all other imps from Ghai and whole Taruna Mehra to revise it in short time.
For last moments, preparatory manual from jaypee publication (forgot author name) can help!
Orthopedics :
Only book to be read is Apurva Mehra. Theory, practical, SQs, MCQs… He covers everything and you can trust his references blindly.
Please don't read Maheshwari. And if you read, don't believe it… So many mistakes… like a mistake per page!
Psychiatry :
Praveen Tripathi : Best bet. Everything covered. Well explained with examples.
Neeraj Ahuja good for theory but doesn't create a much difference at last. SN written from Praveensir's book are more than enough!
Skin :
Neena Khanna : Good book. So many pictures, Explained theory, short review… For theory well to read.
Saurabh Jindal : Sir has given good review of subject with enough images. You can also write many SNs from his book. Choice is yours…
Radiology :
MAK radiology : Trust me blindly and buy this book. No option… I have bought 4 books but understood only from this one! But as it's vast book, read only imp topics. For general radiology and radiotherapy, read all…
Anaesthetia :
Ajay Yadav : Good book. Not vast but covers almost everything.
If you are attending any classes, class notes are enough. No need to read book.
Dentistry :
Subject in few college (including mine) : Read Imp SNs from SRB/Bailey. And few from Internet…
Practical
Medicine : No best book! Combined all!!
Algappan : Method of examination is best explained!
P J Mehta : Causes and symptomatology are best given! Cramming all is almost certainly for passing marks!
Kundu : Case based questions are amazingly explained. Almost a prototype you will be asked in your viva!
Table viva : Procedures and Instruments from Mehta, all other things from theory.
My approach : Read Algappn and Mehta together. Add all extra points in Mehta (small book and easy to handle). After completing whole reading, check questions from Kundu and read all I don't know!
Yellow oza : small book, help very well in passing!
Surgery :
Makhanlal Saha : Best book. You get all perfoema, methods of examination, Viva questions (like Kundu), Instruments, Procedures, Specimens, Xrays… everything!
S. Das : Standard book. In viva. Plus read starting general chapters like history performa and types of pain, examination of ulcer and lump (general) like those basic things.
Zala : There is a short book, like notes. You can check it if starting on last moments!
Pediatrics :
Santosh Kumar : Best book to read! Everything covered and in a best manner!
Mayur Chheda : smaller than SK. But still standard. Everything given.
OBGY :
I am sorry, but I haven't read this subject well for practicals. So take advice
I have read small book authored by H U Doshi. Helped me to answer viva questions but like short-cut!
I hope I have described all. Still if you have doubts, comment section is always open. Or you can always PM me.
Honestly at UG level I’d say the best is Davidson plus clinical classes where you actually take histories and examine patients yourself
Or alternatively Dr Rakesh Nair from Marrow, he can make you fall in love with the subject if you can spare the time (very long, but worth it)
But still my first choice would be Davidson, very underrated among students these days, I was one of like 20% people in my batch who read it, but it really gives a lot of clarity
If you're unable to understand medicine it just means you didn't read Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology and Microbiology that's the long and short of it. Altough you can just watch a Marrow lecture to clear up whatever you didn't understand instead of opening those books now
If you're unable to understand clinical medicine then there are tons of books for each subject like
Bedside Cardiology by Jules Constant
Geraint Fuller's Neurological Examination etc
Harrison, Boards and beyond , Hutchinson clinical
If u wanna understand medicine, go take a case , study up on Harrison cardinal manifestation come up with ur diagnosis, go back and che k wt drs are doing to tht patient , and think in tht Dr perspective they myt be wrong too and look up literature to confirm.
Davidson’s is a good mixture of content & ease to read, it’s not too bulky neither it compromises on concept building.
Physio + Patho + Pharma = Medicine.
So to understand medicine, these are the basics that needs to be clear in your mind. There is a reason that medicine is a final year subject.
