BOOKS TO BE PREFERED FOR USMLE

THE BEST USMLE BOOKS

1. First Aid - the mother of all preparations
2.kaplan notes.... (jus write extraa on the margins)
3.Anatomy : high yield for embryo, neuro , histo and gross
4.Physiology : brs physio jot extra points to kaplan (courtesy:georgia)
5.Biochemistry :Lippincott
6.Microbiology :Jawetz (for reference only ...)
7.Pathology : Brs with points on kaplan
8.Webpath for slides
9.Behav science:Brs is okk
10.Biostats :NMS
11.Q book kaplans...+/- nms series

personalise the list according to ur time n needs




This book is a must-have for second year medical students and anyone taking Step 1 of the USMLE. It's great preparation for your second year classes, and the most concise and comprehensive text of what you'll need to know for Step 1. If you understand the material in this book, you will do quite well on Step 1. The information could be a bit better organized, but otherwise this book is unreservedly recommended Order your today.
The book reviews below were taken directly from FIRST AID FOR THE USMLE STEP 1, this is the bible of board review.

COMPREHENSIVE

A- Body Systems Reviews I, II, and III

Board Simulator Series, Gruber
Four exams with approximately 160 questions each. Follow new USMLE content outline (Book I covers hamatopoietic/lymphoreticular, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems; Book II tests GI, renal, reproductive, and endocrine systems; and Book III tests nervous, skin/connective tissue, and musculoskeletal systems). Numerous vignettes reflect clinical slant of the exam. Good black-and-white photgraphs. Comprehensive systems-based approach. Most effective if all three books are used. For the motivated student. Explanations discuss important concepts.

A- Retired NBME Basic Medical Sciences Test Items

NBME
Contains "retired" questions in all seven areas of basics science. Good topics. Letter answer only with no explanations. Content is still relevant, but the format is outdated. Contains old K-type questions. No clinical vignettes. Out of print, so try to find an old copy.

A- Review for USMLE Step I Examination

NMS, Lazo
Williams & Wilkins
Very good source of practice questions and answers. Features updated clinical questions with a limited number of vignettes. Some questions are too picky or difficult. Good explanations, but occasionally offers unnecessary detail. Good buy for the number of questions.

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ANATOMY

A- High-Yield Embryology

Dudek
William & Wilkins
Excellent, concise review of embryology. Thorough coverage of subject. Excellent organization with clinical correlations. Crammable list of embryologic origins of tissues. Consider BRS Embryology for more complete diagrams.

A- High-Yield Gross Anatomy

Dudek
William & Wilkins
Excellent, concise review with clinical correlations. Contains will-labeled, high-yield radiologic images. Limited but very positive student feedback.

A- High-Yield Neuroanatomy

Fix
William & Wilkins
Clean, easy-to-read outline format. Straightforward text with excellent diagrams and illustrations. Just enough detail without anything extra. Very high yield review. More comprehensive than Clinical Neuroanatomy Made Rediculously Simple. Lacks index.

B+ Ace NeuroScience

Ace, Castro
Mosby-Year Book
Outline format with some good photomicrographs. Covers neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and neuropathology. Separate chapters on clinical correlations are very high yield. For the motivated student. Test software included with text. Mony-back guarantee if you fail.

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BEHAVIOR SCIENCE

A High-Yield Behavior Science

High Yield, Fadem
Williams & Wilkins
Clear, concise, very quick review of behavior scienc. Logical presentation with charts, graphs, and tables. More compact than Fadem's other review text. Short byt adequate statistics chapter. Lacks index.

A- Behavioral Science Review

BRS, Fadem
Williams & Wilkins
Easy reading, outline format, boldfacing of key terms. Good, detailed coverage of high-yield topics. Gives more information than may be needed for the USMLE. Great tables and charts. Short but complete statistics chapter.

B+ Ace Behavioral Science

Ace, Cody
Mosby-Year Book
Concise content review with boards-style questions and explanations. Thorough, easy-to-read format with numerous tables. Icons may be more distracting than helpful. No biostatistics. Test software is included with tex. Money-back guarantee if you fail.

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BIOCHEMISTRY

A Lippincotts's Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry

Champe
Lippincott
Excellent book, but requires time commitment, so an early start is necessary. Best used while taking the course. Excellent diagrams. Emphasizes concepts. Good clinical correlations. Comprehensive review of biochemistry, including low-yield topics. Not for cramming unless you skim high-yield diagrams.

A- BRS Biochemistry

Marks
Williams & Wilkins
Easy-to-read outline with very good boldfaced chapter summaries. More concise alternative to Lippincott. Outline format is not ideal for some sections. Mixed-quality diagrams. High-yield clinical correlations are given at the end of each chapter. Questions with short answers. Some questions are too picky.

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MICROBIOLOGY

A Medical Microbiology & Immunology: Examination and Board Review

Levinson
Appleton & Lange
Clear, concise writing, with excellent diagrams and tables. Excellent immunology section. Forty-two page "Summary of Medically Important Organisms" very crammable. Requires time commitment. Sometimes too detailed and dense. Best if started early with the course. Covers all topics, including low-yield ones. Good practice questions and comprehensive exam, but questions have letter answer only.

A- Clinical Microbiology Made Rediculously Simple

Gladwin
MedMaster
Very good chart-based review of microbiology. Clever and humorous mnemonics. Best of this series. Text easy to read. Excellent antibiotic review helps for pharmacology as well. "Rediculous" style does not appeal to everyone. Does not cover immunology. Excellent if you have limited time or are "burning out."

A- BRS Medical & Immunology

Johnson BRS
Williams & Wilkins
Outline-format, well-organized, organ-based approach. Good questions at the ends of chapters. Too few diagrams. Includes chapters on bacterial genetics and laboratory methods. Immunology section is concise.

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PATHOLOGY

A BRS Pathology

BRS, Schneider
William & Wilkins
Excellent, concise review with appropriate emphasis. Outline-format chpaters with boldfacing of key facts. Excellent questions with explanations at the end of each chapters and a comprehensive exam at the end of the book. Well-organized tables and diagrams. Some good black-and-white photographs representative of classic pathology. Short on clinical details for vignette questions. Consistently high student recommendations. Must start early, but very worthwhile to master this book. Correlate with color photographs from an atlas.

A-Pathology: Review for New National Boards

Miller
J & S
Questions-and-answer-based review of pathology. Includes many case-based questions. Focuses on high-yield topics. Good black-and-white photographs. Some picky questions with incomplete answers. Inadequate as sole source of review. Expensive for number of questions.

A-Pathophysiology of Disease: An Introduction to Clinical Medicine

McPhee
Appleton & Lange
Interdisciplinary course text useful for understanding the pathophysiology of clinical symptoms. Excellent integration of basic sciences with mechanisms of disease. Great graphs, diagrams, and tables. Most helpful if used during coursework due to length. Few non-board-style questions. Clinical emphasis nicely complement BRS Pathology.

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PHARMACOLOGY

A- Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews: Pharmacology

Harvey
Lippincott
Outline format with practice questions and many excellent and memorable illustrations and tables. Cross-referenced ro Lippincotts's Biochemistry. Good for the "big picture." Good pathophysiologic approach. Detailed, so must start early. For the motivated student. Ten illustrated case studies with questions and answers in the appendix.

A- Pharm Cards: A Review for Medical Students

Johannsen
Little, Brown Review in compact index-card format; very popular with students. High-lights important features of major drugs/drug classes. Perfect for class review; also offers a quick, focused review for the USMLE. Lacks pharmacokinetics. Good charts adn diagrams. Highly rated by students who enjoy flash-card-based review.

A- Pharmacology: Examination and Board Review

Katzung
Appleton & Lange
Text is well organized in a narrative format. Good charts and tables. Large number of relevant and challenging questions with concise explanations. Good for drug interactions and toxicities. Text is quite detailed and requires substantial time commitment. Includes some low-yield/obscure drugs. The 40-page crammable list of "top boards drugs" is especially high yield.

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PHYSIOLOGY

A BRS Physiology

BRS, Costanzo
Williams & Wilkins Clear, concise review of physiology. Fast, easy reading. Comprehensive and efficient. Great charts and tables. Good practice questions with explanations with a clinically oriented final exam. Excellent review book, but many not be enough for in-depth coursework.

A Ace Physiology

Ace, Ackermann
Mosby-Year Book
Concise yet thorough content review with some boards-style questions. Outline format is easy to read. Good illustrations. Test software included with text. Money-back guarantee if you fail.