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Rapid Interpretation of EKGs
The reader's rapid assimilation of medical concepts is the key to the continuing success of this best-selling book. A caption explains the concept illustrated on each page, and a few simple sentences reinforce the concept with interactive (programmed) learning, which links to the following page. Dr Dubin's light and entertaining style, known world-wide, makes learning enjoyable. Practice twelve-lead tracings at the end establish self-confidence, and summarised reference sheets with examples (designed to be copied) provide an excellent review.
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First published October 29, 1975
268 people are currently reading
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About the author
Dale Dubin
27 books10 followersDale Dubin, M.D. (b. 1940), is a former American plastic surgery and author of several cardiology textbooks.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
August 26, 2012
Given Dubin's child porn infractions, I feel a bit uncomfortable enjoying his book so much. But it's undeniable: the man teaches a mean EKG.
August 14, 2018
I read this book cover to cover and can officially say it is my favorite EKG resource! I learned so much, had so many “Ah Ha!” moments, and was generally fascinated with all I learned and can now understand! I highly recommend this for anyone who takes, looks at, or uses EKGs.
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February 28, 2026counting this as a book read this year😎
July 11, 2022
The rating is not reflecting how I feel about the author. He is a horrible human being and I bought the book used so the money doesn't go to him. But, this book was SUPER helpful with understanding EKGs and not just memorizing what things are supposed to look like.
February 23, 2017
easy to understand and very helpful
February 5, 2019
the best ecg textbook for beginners, I like the organisation of the book but it lacks a lot of topics on ecg abnormalities
March 3, 2018
الحمد لله حمدا كثيرا طيبا مباركا فيه أن أنعم علي هذه النعمة
كتاب جميل ممتع و مضحك في بعض الأحيان طريقة طرحه للمعلومة مبسطة فعلا مفيد لكني الآن متعبة و لا يحق لي الاحتفال لأنه مازالت تنتظرني الكثييييير من " revision" لامتحان الcardio
القادم باذن الله
لم اركز في الاجزاء الاخيرة من الكتاب لاني مرهقة جدااااا
أنصح به بشدة
طبعا لطلبة الطب او ما شابهه هههه
كتاب جميل ممتع و مضحك في بعض الأحيان طريقة طرحه للمعلومة مبسطة فعلا مفيد لكني الآن متعبة و لا يحق لي الاحتفال لأنه مازالت تنتظرني الكثييييير من " revision" لامتحان الcardio
القادم باذن الله
لم اركز في الاجزاء الاخيرة من الكتاب لاني مرهقة جدااااا
أنصح به بشدة
طبعا لطلبة الطب او ما شابهه هههه
September 11, 2021
Je le lis pour la deuxième fois, et ça vaut vraiment le coup pour faire un tout p'tit rappel rapide et riche !
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October 19, 2017Wish me luck on my test tomorrow!
April 4, 2026
I know this guy went to prison and lost his medical license and all that jazz, but no denying he wrote a damn good book about EKG’s
July 30, 2020
Nicholas advised me to read this book a year ago. Having completed that, I highly recommend this simple and practical book as a guide for any medical student who are struggling in learning how to interpret EKG. D.D has great instruction, delivers by systematic and concise approach and also lots of humour on writing the example and provides just the right guidance for readers. I love the commentary on this example of non-conducted premature atrial beat:
"This tracing is from a medical student who had a few cups of coffee in order to study late. She went to the Emergency Room because her pulse seemed irregular. The intern on duty that thought that the tracing showed" intermittent complete AV Block" and was about to call the attending physician (at 4.00 am) to schedule an emergency artificial pacemaker implantation. Explain the EKG strip to the intern, using only what you have learned so far (before he wakes the attending physician and DISCOVER THE REAL MEANING OF "IRRITABLE")"
"This tracing is from a medical student who had a few cups of coffee in order to study late. She went to the Emergency Room because her pulse seemed irregular. The intern on duty that thought that the tracing showed" intermittent complete AV Block" and was about to call the attending physician (at 4.00 am) to schedule an emergency artificial pacemaker implantation. Explain the EKG strip to the intern, using only what you have learned so far (before he wakes the attending physician and DISCOVER THE REAL MEANING OF "IRRITABLE")"
May 27, 2018
1 star for obvious reasons...
February 9, 2023
Truth be told, this book deserves 6 stars, but I gave it 1 for obvious reasons
March 28, 2020
This book is great educational resource for anyone trying to improve their knowledge of heart rhythms and EKGs. I would recommend it to both new learners and those trying to refresh or solidify their existing knowledge. As an ED nurse formerly in cardiology, there was much that I learned that hadn't previously been well explained to me. The content that I was familiar with became all the more cemented in my mind.
Rapid Interpretation reads more like a narrative than most textbooks, tackling each subject by reviewing the basics and then building methodically into the more challenging concepts. In that way, this book is meant to be read from beginning to end and probably would not be my first choice as a quick reference book.
One additional benefit was the eye catching, bright orange cover which couldn't help but draw the eye of visitors to my apartment, showing them what a sophisticated man of science I am.
Rapid Interpretation reads more like a narrative than most textbooks, tackling each subject by reviewing the basics and then building methodically into the more challenging concepts. In that way, this book is meant to be read from beginning to end and probably would not be my first choice as a quick reference book.
One additional benefit was the eye catching, bright orange cover which couldn't help but draw the eye of visitors to my apartment, showing them what a sophisticated man of science I am.
April 12, 2026
This book introduces a minor issue in my grading scheme. The content is excellent, providing what I imagine will be a wonderful approach (though I haven’t tested it quite yet).
However one cannot overlook the whole pedophile author aspect at play. As of right now I will subtract one star as result. I’m not able to put myself in the “separate the art from the artist camp” but at the same time our author here wrote a mighty fine book.
I reserve the right to subtract another star if the pedophile issue continues to plague my mind going forward
However one cannot overlook the whole pedophile author aspect at play. As of right now I will subtract one star as result. I’m not able to put myself in the “separate the art from the artist camp” but at the same time our author here wrote a mighty fine book.
I reserve the right to subtract another star if the pedophile issue continues to plague my mind going forward
January 12, 2025
Highly recommend this book for the basics of EKGs!
April 6, 2026
Ok so wow this teaches rate, rhythm, and axis in an insanely intuitive way. Builds back the fundamentals of circuits and EP you learned in premed and preclinical cards in a way that continuously checks back with you to ensure understanding. He’s funny with it too.
Cards and EP are not strong suits for me (which is ironic because I like neurophys a lot but I digress) but this got me in a much more comfortable spot.
Would recommend to any health professional or student provided you’ve had some degree of clinical experience to give it some tangible experiences to draw on.
Cards and EP are not strong suits for me (which is ironic because I like neurophys a lot but I digress) but this got me in a much more comfortable spot.
Would recommend to any health professional or student provided you’ve had some degree of clinical experience to give it some tangible experiences to draw on.
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May 31, 2023This better help on boards
October 1, 2025
Riveting.
In all seriousness I think this book has helped increase my confidence and understanding of EKGs, and it is a bit tedious but worth it!
In all seriousness I think this book has helped increase my confidence and understanding of EKGs, and it is a bit tedious but worth it!
December 23, 2023
Very good information but I absolutely do not recommend trying to read this book cover-to-cover like I did 😂 I am really glad there were fill-in-the-blanks for the course of the book as they helped keep me awake! I anticipate that this will be a really nice reference guide for future perusal. I think it generally does a good job of trying to tackle a very complex subject and make it accessible for the average reader.
January 19, 2011
Should I be putting a textbook in this list? I'm not sure. What I can say, however, is that I've spent the last few days flying through this book, which somehow manages to resemble a children's colouring book and still cover everything you could possibly need to know about ECGs as a medical student.
Recommended as a gentle introduction (or re-introduction in my case) to ECGs.
Recommended as a gentle introduction (or re-introduction in my case) to ECGs.
July 19, 2007
This EKG book has enough conceptual scaffolding built in that I'm pretty sure someone with only a basic understanding of the heart could learn how to read an EKG.
Also the paper quality is crazy heavy. Every page is full-color glossy, almost magazine-cover thickness.
Also the paper quality is crazy heavy. Every page is full-color glossy, almost magazine-cover thickness.
August 31, 2015
I'm giving it a 5 because it was everything I expected from a book with such a title. An efficient and easy read to interpret EKGs for whoever that's just interested what Electrocardiograms are about! Strongly recommended for med students!
October 14, 2013
This was a simple yet very helpful instructional guide to reading and understanding EKGs. I'd definitely recommend this to medical students or other health professionals who need a guide that takes them through the basics and a little bit beyond.
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August 24, 20205 stars for being a great resource, minus all the stars for Dubin having been convicted of owning child pornography.
Just make sure to buy it used or to borrow a friend's copy so your money doesn't go to Dubin.
Just make sure to buy it used or to borrow a friend's copy so your money doesn't go to Dubin.
July 25, 2007
This book is, so far, amazingly easy to understand. Reading EKG strips has confounded me until I picked up this book.
February 11, 2009
This made understanding EKG's seem easy. I hope I can remember what I learned.
November 25, 2014
What can I say, it is an amazing book.
Makes you understand EKG like no other!
Makes you understand EKG like no other!
May 15, 2023
I think I read the book at least 3 times already, because one keeps forgetting certain details unless constant usage of the knowledge learnt.
Overall, a good book for introducing yourself in EKG. It keeps away from very technical aspects, and focuses on what says to deliver - rapid interpretation. For a student it's a safe way to promote any exam requiring EKG knowledge.
Here are the rules of conduct for EKG interpretation:
1. Calculate the rate - beats per minute
2. Check the rhythm - especially for regularity.
3. Check the shapes and duration of waves: P, T and QRS complex
4. Check the segment PR (duration) and ST (form)
5. Check the intervals: QT (duration), TP (duration)
6. Check for the existence of other exceptional waves: Q (which might also be normal), J and U
These would be the procedure by which you can detent most pathologies EKG can detect. Of course, the practice and repetition are essential.
The author recommends the following 5 steps (recommended especially in urgent situations):
1. Check rate
2. Check rhythm
3. Check axis
4. Check hypertrophy
5. Check for infarction
But, of course, whenever you have time, I personally recommend the exhaustive procedure described before. Know your syndromes!
Overall, a good book for introducing yourself in EKG. It keeps away from very technical aspects, and focuses on what says to deliver - rapid interpretation. For a student it's a safe way to promote any exam requiring EKG knowledge.
Here are the rules of conduct for EKG interpretation:
1. Calculate the rate - beats per minute
2. Check the rhythm - especially for regularity.
3. Check the shapes and duration of waves: P, T and QRS complex
4. Check the segment PR (duration) and ST (form)
5. Check the intervals: QT (duration), TP (duration)
6. Check for the existence of other exceptional waves: Q (which might also be normal), J and U
These would be the procedure by which you can detent most pathologies EKG can detect. Of course, the practice and repetition are essential.
The author recommends the following 5 steps (recommended especially in urgent situations):
1. Check rate
2. Check rhythm
3. Check axis
4. Check hypertrophy
5. Check for infarction
But, of course, whenever you have time, I personally recommend the exhaustive procedure described before. Know your syndromes!
November 22, 2020
I'm five-starring this book fully convinced of its deserving it.
This book made me understand EKG tracings by making them so simple and clear. I salute professor Dubin and am so much grateful for this book. I read this in PDF simultanesosly in Turkish and the original version and I decided I will have to buy it. Its so much fun to read and you feel so proud of yourself throughout the pages as you get to understand things that sometimes might have sounded so complicated. It took me more than one month to finish it, because I decided to take it slow by absorbing every page, and I so do not regret this. Thank you so much, Dale Dubin, the medicine world should feel indebted to you! :) :)
I recommend the book to every med student who struggles in understanding EKG. I guarantee it will help.
This book made me understand EKG tracings by making them so simple and clear. I salute professor Dubin and am so much grateful for this book. I read this in PDF simultanesosly in Turkish and the original version and I decided I will have to buy it. Its so much fun to read and you feel so proud of yourself throughout the pages as you get to understand things that sometimes might have sounded so complicated. It took me more than one month to finish it, because I decided to take it slow by absorbing every page, and I so do not regret this. Thank you so much, Dale Dubin, the medicine world should feel indebted to you! :) :)
I recommend the book to every med student who struggles in understanding EKG. I guarantee it will help.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews