Textbook Recommendations by Ong Kok Leong (M2 2002/2003)

Harlow, the first pros is over and now u all can throw your biochem away liao (okay, I didn't say that) and here are some of the books that most pple use for M2, u all should really go and read the books and see which one u like although I normally follow the advice of Hanjie........

Okay the main subjects for M2 are: Pathology, Immunology, Microbiology, Neuroscience, Pharmacology and COFM.
 

PATHOLOGY:

Books:
Robbins where there are like Papa, Mama and Baby (no I didn't name them that way) and also Steven and Lowe.
Optional: Wheaters Histo Pahtology, Senior's Notes

My 2 cents:
Hmm, i never really read Steven and Lowe (u should read it to see if u like it) but most people use Robbins.  Almost everybody buys the baby one cos they will need it in the clinics and it is a summary of Papa.  Then for Papa or Mama, Papa is really a lot and everything is inside so it is a lot to read.  Mama is more friendly as it has less.  You all should read before buying but Caroline the unibar uses Mama Robbins.

Wheatus Histo Patho is optional cos I think Robbins has histo inside also and then just pay attention during lessons and copy down what they say lor.

Senior Notes: Well our super retro Patho department uses slides (not powerpt but those projector ones) during lecture, never give out notes and never let us copy finish.  So there are senior notes floating around where it is like a transcript of the lectures.  It consists of 3 sets: General Patho and Sys Patho I & II.  There is also a pots and histo patho senior notes that may be helpful.

My 3 cents:
Get baby and Mama and also maybe senior notes.  But you got to decide yourself!!!

MICROBIOLOGY:

Books:
Jawetz basically and thats all I know.  It is a combination of immunology and microbiology.
Microbiology made ridiculously simple otherwise known as Gladwin and Tradler.

My 2 cents:
Well I think the notes given during lectures are good enough.  The book is good as it combines immuno and microb which is a pretty good deal.  Maybe you all should check with more zai people on what other books are around.
MicroB made simple is funny and useful to help in remembering stuff cos they teach u how to remember stuff.

My 3 cents:
Jawetz should be okay but when there are like CAs that test on Lab stuff, then u all may need to go library and check out others books on infectious diseases, u can even ask the library auntie!  As for MicroB made simple, well it is useful to have but not really needed, u better wait first or read it to see.

IMMUNOLOGY:

Books:
Jawetz and there is Sunshine (yes it is a book) and also Janeway.

My 2 cents:
Well, Jawetz is a short summary of immuno, sunshine is pretty useful and Janeway has alot of things that is not inside lecture so its useful if u don't understand and selective reading is needed.

My 3 cents:
It is not really worth it to buy another book for immuno leh (yes, I am a cheapskate), Jawetz should be okay, if not go to library to borrow Janeway to zap lor.

NEUROSCIENCE:

Books:
Crossman, Fitzgerald and Snell Neuroanatomy.

My 2 cents:
Crossman is like me, a lazy man's book.  The lecturer recommended Fitzgerald but I think Fitzgerald is a tough book to read leh (coincidentally, the lecturer was one of the contributing author in the book so.......).  Snell is pretty useful cos it has the necessary stuff inside.

My 3 cents:
Crossman was enough for me but I had to do some photocopying for some topics.  Snell is pretty useful.  Try to get hold of the past year lecture notes because of the stupid copyright rule, they dun give out notes anymore.  If you have the notes, study it front to back, inside out, laterally and medially, anteriorly and posteriorly cos the questions are like regurgitation from the notes.  And before the pros, the department will have a "revision" lecture, where they direct us to the "more important" stuff.

PHARMACOLOGY:

Books:
Katzung. Others I don't really know besides Rang and Dale.

My 2 cents:
Most people use Katzung and it has a lot of stuff inside so u should read selectively.  Rang and Dale is more friendly but is not recommended by the dept I think.  I use it only for Pharmacokinetics lecture.

My 3 cents:
Buy Katzung lor, M3 got Pharmaco exam leh.  Some parts just borrow Rang and Dale to read lor.

COFM:

Books:
Ha har, COFM books.

My 2 cents:
Ha har, COFM books.

My 3 cents:
Ha har, COFM books.


These are the main ones I think, there are also minor topics like Cancer and Genetics which is not worth it to buy books, just go library and zap for some topics.

Okay, this is just what I think of the stuff you all should buy, just check with the others for advice and OGLs.

Trying to recommend books is like matchmaking, the bloody matchmaker may say who and what is good and how good and how good or how super good and how super good but u got to see it for yourself to believe it.

Okay, enjoy the holidays, it is just like britney spear's wardrobe, it is short and it is rare and we really need more of it.

okay I know it is not that funny, but was thinking of something funny to say.

okay I should shutup.