Learning Medicine

by Peter Richards, Simon Stockill, Rosalind Foster

Whatever your background, whether you are a school-leaver or a mature student, if you are interested in finding out more about being a doctor, medical-school life and the details of how to get a place at medical school, this is the book for you. It has been in continuous publication since 1983 and the 17th edition has once again been completely revised throughout to update the practical details about medical-school entry as well as the latest changes in the curriculum. Also, in this edition, for the first time, the legal pitfalls facing medical students and doctors are set out in a chapter by a barrister with immense experience of doctors in difficulty. Written by a leading academic, a GP, a barrister and a graduate medical student, this definitive careers guide gives a true insight into life as a student and what it means to be a doctor.

Genres: Medical

Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Marco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learning Medicine by Peter Richards and Simon Stockhill was one of the many books I used to help me decide whether I wanted to becoming a doctor.

It is informative yet concise enough to be interesting and covers many issues and questions that students like me might have, including why medicine and why not, requirements for entry, choosing a medical school, interviews, what medical school is like and what happens after medical school.

I think this book is very clear and accurate. It's a must-read book for those who are thinking of going into medicine. Make sure you get the newest edition though, otherwise the information will not be up-to-date. I think the newest edition is the seventeeth edition (as of November 2011).

The book goes into detail about medical school is like and helps with answers to interview questions and writing your UCAS personal statement so it is an essential read. The book also talks about life as a doctor, and the different stages of the medical career (i.e. becoming and F1 and F2 doctor and how to specialise) so it also applies to people who are currently training as a doctor.

What is most important for me, though, is that it has made sure that medicine is the right career for me, as it goes through the essential qualities of the doctor, like working well in a team, empathy, etc. Furthermore, its use of case studies are integral in the book and it shows what medicine is like from people of different backgrounds, and there were many case studies whose stories related to me, which really helped me to decide whether medicine is for me.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the 18th edition which I would definitely recommend to any prospective medical student, medical students, their parents and really anyone interested or involved in a career in medicine.

This book explained a lot about what medicine involved: really helping me to answer the question "is medicine for me?" What it means to be a good doctor, their duties, the difficulties and hardships that lie ahead, Learning Medicine provides a real insight into everything you should consider before embarking upon a medicine course.

When reading, take the time to reflect, and what I love about this book is how it made me reflect about myself, helping me make my decision to pursue medicine. I now feel more informed and aware of what medicine involves, of what it means to be a doctor and of what I'm letting myself in for.