The physician’s day rises and falls with the written word: an unexpected laboratory result, a practice-changing medical journal publication or a news story about a trend affecting patients’ access to care.
But there may be an opportunity for physicians to dive into some longer and more rewarding reads. Whether physicians, residents or medical students are in search of books to read to relax or learn more about a medical topic, the AMA’s “Shadow Me” Specialty Series—which offers advice directly from physicians about life in their specialties—provides some outstanding nonfiction recommendations.
Here, in alphabetical order by book author, are eight nonfiction books that AMA members who have participated in the “Shadow Me” Specialty Series recommend reading. Each of these doctors is from a health care organization that is a member of the AMA Health System Program, which provides enterprise solutions to equip leadership, physicians and care teams with resources to help drive the future of medicine.
Every Deep-Drawn Breath
By E. Wesley Ely, MD, MPH
This book “delves into the long-term effects of critical illness, transforming practice,” said L. Wesley Aldred, MD, a pulmonary and critical care medicine physician with Hattiesburg Clinic.
Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End
By Atul Gawande, MD
“Being Mortal is a well-researched chronicle of how we die in the U.S. and how people actually want to die when they encounter it. I found it insightful and moving,” said Rambod A. Rouhbakhsh, MD, an academic family physician with Hattiesburg Clinic.
Lexie Graham, MD, an internal medicine physician at Confluence Health, considers “this a must-read for everyone. It explores what is important for us all in life and death, how to have the hard conversations about what really matters, and how we can help our patients in their most difficult and vulnerable moments.”
“This should be required reading for any primary care physician in the current era of medicine,” echoed Clyde J. Pierce, MD, a hospitalist with Wenatchee Valley Medical Group, which is a multispecialty physician group in partnership with Confluence Health.
How Doctors Think
By Jerome Groopman, MD
“It is a great analysis of the thought processes that go into patient care,” said Jordon Despain, MD, a family physician in a multi-specialty group in Central Washington affiliated with Confluence Health.
Think Like a Freak
By Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
This book “is about training your brain to think differently and approach problem solving in a new way,” said Michael A. Horberg, MD, MAS, an infectious diseases physician at Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group.
Dr. Horberg added that he “really liked” this book and found it useful.
The Real Doctor Will See You Shortly: A Physician's First Year
By Matthew McCarthy, MD
Mazen Elatrache, MD, a gastroenterologist with Henry Ford Health, recommends this book, which is about how doctors are made and takes readers into patients’ rooms and doctors’ conferences to show how a critical care physician moves from ineptitude to competence.
Girls & Sex: Navigating the Complicated New Landscape
By Peggy Orenstein
Kimberly D. Warner, MD, an ob-gyn at Colorado Permanente Medical Group, said this book “features eye-opening research on how girls from their teens through college are experiencing sex, and it’s disturbing.”
Lady Tan’s Circle of Women: A Novel
By Lisa See
At the time of her interview with the AMA, Confluence Health anesthesiologist Rachel Clement, MD, had recently finished this book, which is “about 16th-century Chinese medicine, gender roles and family.”
“I spent years not reading anything other than textbooks while in training and have had to relearn how to read for fun,” said Dr. Clement. “I now read or listen to two to three books at a time. I love the feeling of craving a book.”
Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic—and What We Can Do About It
By Jennifer Breheny Wallace
“I wish I had been able to read this in residency. We work so hard before, during and after training, and the pursuit for perfection, do no harm and achievement does not end,” said Dr. Clement. “The expectations we have of ourselves can translate into expectations we have of our kids and our partners, even when we don’t intend them to.”
The AMA Specialty Guide simplifies medical students’ specialty selection process, highlights major specialties, details training information, and provides access to related association information. It is
