Books that have helped me feel less incompetent

If you want to impress people while reading CXRs:

Remember the bright orange Dale Dubin book, Rapid Interpretation of EKGs?  And how it’s totally amazing, though we all wish it had been written by someone else?

This is that book, for chest x-rays.  It has the same “programmed text” system: fill in the blank sentences with the answer on the right, to keep you actively reading.  It uses tons and tons of pictures which you test yourself on, and is also a surprisingly quick read.

After reading this book, I’m really surprised at how little of this I picked up back in our pulmonary section.  I now know much more than “too much white = oh dear, not good.” 

If you want help with differential diagnoses:

I know we’re supposed to come up with differentials on our own.  I know.  I do.  But I swear, every time I look something up in this book, I remember it better later. It’s like magic.

The table of contents covers common complaints/signs.  You turn to the page for, say, “hypocalcemia” or “night sweats” to get a brief overview of common etiologies, initial diagnostic tests to consider ordering, initial patient management, and maneuvers that need to be a part of the physical exam. It fits in a standard white coat pocket.  (They also have a version for “Medicine”, which I also love.)

If you want to make studying about 3,000% more awesome:

GUYS. HEY GUYS. GUYS. Gel pens are ERASEABLE now.

(Why?  Because God takes many forms, that’s why.)

(… okay, fine, it’s not a book.)