I've only ever seen Reddit from Google searches, so bear with me as I don't know the culture of it lol. Not sure if this is even the right subreddit.
Anyway, I've realized I love biology, and find it super super interesting. (having this realization through listening to my professor's lectures, medical stories from family, and watching small clips online of cool facts, etc). I enjoy the material when I can get an understanding and dive into endless searches to learn more. But my issue when actually trying to have good recall, memorization, and full understanding is that my ADHD makes it hard to start and stay engaged. The words become too complicated, and I feel I need to read the same textbook sentence over and over, leading me to push them off, although I want to learn them.
!!-I was wondering if there are maybe any books out there that explore human biology, microbiology, and medical understanding (stuff along these lines) that are actually engaging and fun to read, something with personality to it. Instead of classic medical textbooks with stone-cold, emotionless words.-!!
I want to learn so much more and gain a better overall understanding of the courses within my major (biology/ pre-nursing), but I just feel I have a hard time staying focused on books/ videos/ literally any media in general that becomes too complicated too quickly. Making the information undigestible.
Sorry for the excessive explaining, but I write it all out in hopes there are people out there who might understand what I mean.
by ritz_ratz
10 Comments
The Sediments of Time by Maeve Leakey. Memoir by a prominent paleoanthropologist that also covers a broad view what we know about human evolution, and how scientists figured it out.
I recommend forensic anthropology novels from authors like Kathy Reichs, Robin Cook and Patrica Cornwell. Maybe even Michael Crichton.
Pro tip: If you find a book that fits your preferences and needs, check out not only the author’s other works, but also the publisher’s catalog (on their website), especially nonfiction. They will typically publish similar titles on various topics.
It sounds like you’re maybe looking for “pop science” books (“quotes” being keywords for any future searches).
As for recommendations:
I found “Life’s Edge” by Carl Zimmer fascinating. Each chapter covers a different subject.
Maybe something like “How the Brain Lost Its Mind” by Ropper and Burrell, about neurosyphillis. Though it’s been a while since I read it so I’m not sure how technical/dense it gets; I remember enjoying it.
Mary Roach’s works are popular, and cover a wide range of topics.
The Body A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson! Pop science, very readable
Behave by Robert Sapolsky on neurobiology, taught me a lot
Stiff by Mary Roach, also Replaceable You, Gulp, Bonk, or anything else she’s written.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green
Quackery by Lydia Kang
Get Me Out by Randi Hutter Epstein
Other authors to consider: Caitlin Doughty, Lindsey Fitzharris
I really liked The Ancestor’s Tale by Dawkins.
The Girl in His Shadow is a historical fiction story (and there is also a sequel) exploring the time in medicine when women were not allowed to practice or study. Medical problems and procedures are described. I found it fascinating to read and engaging since it is a novel!
The Emperor of All Maladies – a history of cancer. So readable!
One of my favorite books that I read last year is I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life by Ed Wong.
It’s a fantastic book about microbes, the ones all around us, how they’re connected to the ones in our body and all of their amazing capabilities. It’s very well-written and in my opinion, approachable for someone who doesn’t study academically study microbiology. I loved it and would read it again.
Berton Roueche authored a number of books about being a medical detective – they are pretty fascinating. Eleven Blue Men is a classic. Most of the books contents are articles he wrote for the New Yorker.