Books On Bedside Medicine
Stanford Medicine 25’s Summer Reading List
August 7, 2024 - By Lindsay Paulsen
Even outside of the hospital or clinic, learning never stops! If you’re look for a fresh perspective on bedside medicine, tips on patient care, or you’re simply eager to expand your education, the quieter days of summer can be a great time to dive into a book.
Following, we’ve put together a list of reading material for those who are passionate about bedside medicine. You’ll notice that many of these books are not new publications, but we believe they all include a variety of timeless lessons to help you bring better care to patients. Check out our list below to get inspired!
Various Works by Abraham Verghese, M.D.
The founder of Stanford Medicine 25, physician and author Abraham Verghese, M.D., MACP, has gained global recognition for his written works. His newly released medical novel, The Covenant of Water, earned spots at the top of the New York Times Best-Seller List and is also celebrated as an Oprah’s book club pick! This piece, set in Kerala, on South India’s Malabar Coast, follows three generations of a family that suffers from a unique curse: a least one person in every generation dies by drowning. The novel weaves together threads of medical ingenuity with Verghese’s keen insights on humanity.
Fans of The Covenant of Water will also appreciate Verghese’s other works, including his best-selling medical novel, Cutting for Stone, The Tennis Partner and My Own Country, a story of Verghese’s personal experience caring for patients with AIDS in 1980s rural America. Verghese also wrote the forward for When Breath Becomes Air, a memoir by the late Stanford neurosurgeon Paul Kalanithi, M.D. This piece, published posthumously, explores the meaning of life in the face of the author’s battle with terminal illness, when death is imminent.
The Soul of Medicine: Tales from The Bedside
This collection of stories, by the late Clinical Professor of Surgery at Yale University School of Medicine Sherwin B. Nuland, M.D., captures tales from doctors over the span of 30 years. These vignettes zoom in on the challenges of medicine, but also share the author’s unique insight on the doctor-patient relationship, shedding light on the art of caregiving.
Every Patient Tells a Story: Medical Mysteries and the Art of Diagnosis
This New York Times Bestseller is written by Yale School of Medicine’s Lisa Sanders, M.D., FACP, author of New York Times magazine column, “Diagnosis,” which inspired the popular TV series, House M.D. This book highlights the complexities of illness and the necessity of physician “detective work” that uncovers the patient story and often reveals important diagnostic clues.
Attending: Medicine, Mindfulness and Humanity
Although this book by the University of Rochester Medical Center’s Ronald Epstein, M.D., is geared toward the general public, it contains valuable lessons for physicians about the role of compassion and humanity in patient care. Based on personal experience in the operating room, Epstein observed that mindfulness marked the difference between average and exceptional physicians. This book combines insights from his programs on mindfulness with powerful clinical stories.
The Power of Patient Stories: Learning Moments in Medicine
This text by the late University of Rochester Medical Center’s Paul Griner, M.D., retells stories of Griner’s patient encounters from more than almost six decades. His words call for a restoration of balance between technology and humanism in medicine, sharing guidance on how to realistically put the “art of medicine” into practice. Each of his stories concludes with a provocative question to encourage reader reflection on complex moral issues that arise in the clinic.
By the Bedside of the Patient: Lessons for the Twenty-First Century Physician
Calling for a reform to the medical education system, UNC School of Medicine’s Nortin M. Hadler MD, MACP, MACR, FACOEM, takes a historical look at the evolution of medical education, from the undergraduate level to residency and beyond. As the pendulum swings between an emphasis on literature and culture to science and technology, Hadler advocates for a new approach that puts patient care at the center of medicine, prioritizing empathetic, individual patient relationships.
Osler: Inspirations from a Great Physician
Those who have followed Stanford Medicine 25 are well acquainted with the name Sir William Osler, as we often refer to this influential and renowned physician in our own writings about bedside medicine. This book by Charles S. Bryan, M.D., takes a deeper look at his life, ideals and teachings, in addition to Osler’s own sources of inspiration. The writing shares insights on medicine, but also on living a meaningful life, in general.
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