Gift for an aspiring medic - "These are the hands"? Or something else?

[notime2fly]

I'm buying a gift for a 17yo girl who is hoping to study medicine or a related course (possibly physiotherapy). I was wondering whether she might find the poetry book "These are the hands" inspiring, but as I haven't read it myself, it's a shot in the dark. If it contains a lot of cynical poems, it might not be the right choice.. Does anyone know it?

Also happy to hear other ideas.

Perhaps as you haven't read the poems, it may not be such a good choice? What about some other books written by doctors? Do No Harm by Henry Marsh (Neurosurgeon) is very good, as is When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi (doctor with terminal lung cancer). There's Bad Science by Ben Goldacre and the Adam Kaye books manage to be both funny and serious at the same time. I've read and can recommend all these.

House of God is a classic read for any aspiring doctor. Or the Adam Kay books are very easy reading and VERY relatable!

I bought my daughter a watch...one of the silicone clip on ones x

Bad idea.

If she’s into history as well The Butchering Art brilliant book about the history of between 1846 to 1865 and about Joseph Lister.

Down the Rabbit Hole is about Neuro - if shes an aspiring neurosurgeon. Its very good.

This Is Going To Hurt is a classic and a must read for an aspiring junior medic but im willing to bet shes read that.

Could get her a stethoscope? You can get rekitively cheap ones, then upgrade to a more expensive one when she qualifies.

Have a look on Present Indicative. There's loads of quirky science/literature things in there including lots of medicine ones.

Lots of posters on here thought the Adam Kay books were really misogynistic… so maybe not those!

www.amazon.co.uk/These-Are-Hands-Poems-Heart/dp/1911048406?tag=mumsnetforu03-21
the title poem I know and is lovely
going by the reviews her I would think it's very suitable

Im a nurse practitioners and have a read the Adam Kay books - I dont find them misogynistic, I find them quite realistic tbh.

Not bloody Adam Kay what ever you do.

Mysogenistic and frankly traumatising for those of us who have been there.

I’m a midwife and found Adam Kay’s book quite misogynistic.

Does she like poetry?

A surgical suture practice kit.

Henry Marsh's book Do No Harm is quite a good read, imho.

My daughter is a first year medic and read quite a lot of medical related books over the couple of years leading up to her application. I’m not aware of the book you mention but she did enjoy:

When breath becomes air - (I also read this and it’s very inspiring and moving)
Dear Life
The Language of Kindness
Being Mortal
Do no Harm
Unnatural Causes
And the Band Played On

Those are the ones I can bring to mind!

She did also read This is Going to Hurt but I know this splits opinion.

Another idea would be an anatomy colouring book perhaps?

OP I’ve just looked at the book you mentioned and the reviews on Amazon are good and the proceeds go back to the NHS.
I’m going to order a copy for DD! Thank you for bringing it to my attention

@Helenluvsrob

Not bloody Adam Kay what ever you do.

Mysogenistic and frankly traumatising for those of us who have been there.

I agree with this. That book confirmed my belief that men have no business being gynaecologists/obstetricians.

Do No Harm is excellent, and a good read for anyone thinking about medicine.
My DD1 is a doctor and enjoyed 'This is going to Hurt' but she's been a doc for 6 years now and has seen it all! Perhaps not for someone thinking about medicine as a career!

I am a doctor and my favourite book about medicine is Abraham Verghese “Cutting for Stone” - it is fiction, the prose is just beautiful. He is an infectious diseases physician.