Best Books for MBBS Second Year!
Hello, everyone! My name is Munkasif, and I am a second-year MBBS student at GMC Chandrapur. In this tutorial, I will guide you through all the essential books that one should consider for this second year. This year comprises main subjects like Pathology, Pharmacology, and Microbiology, besides optional courses like Forensic Medicine and Preventive and Social Medicine. Let's jump into each subject separately and explain which books help you through them in detail.
11/14/20243 min read
# Essential Books to Read in Second Year MBBS
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## 1. Pathology
Pathology is a crucial subject in your second year, and there are three main types of books you'll encounter:
- Gold Standard Book: These books cover everything in-depth, making them your primary resource.
- Student-Friendly Books: Often by Indian authors, these are more exam-focused and accessible.
- Quick Reference Books: Extremely concise versions, ideal for last-minute revision.
### Recommended Books for Pathology
- Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease: Known as the "gold standard" for pathology, this comprehensive book is available in different sizes:
- Big Robbins (Father Robbins): The most detailed version, ideal for in-depth study.
- Medium Robbins (Mother Robbins): Split into two parts, covering general and systemic pathology.
- Small Robbins: A condensed version for a quick overview.
Note: Robbins is an excellent resource even for clinical years, so it's a valuable investment.
- Harsh Mohan’s Textbook of Pathology: This is a more exam-oriented Indian book, covering diseases common in India (e.g., tuberculosis, leprosy). It offers a point-wise approach compared to the more narrative Robbins.
- Ramdas Nayak: Similar to Harsh Mohan, this is another student-friendly option.
- Review Books:
- Govind Rai Garg and Sparsh Gupta: Summarizes the content from Robbins and Harsh Mohan for easy revision.
- Devesh Mishra: Known for its detailed explanations, though I haven’t personally used it.
- Additional Reference:
- Dr. Abdul Kadir’s Hematology Book: Excellent for hematology, it covers physiology, pathology, and management, recommended by the professor at GMC Nagpur.
### Practical Pathology Resources
- Harsh Mohan Practical Pathology: This book is ideal for practicals, covering FNAC, biopsies, urine microscopy, and more.
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## 2. Microbiology
Microbiology is another key subject for second-year MBBS. Here’s a breakdown of recommended books:
- Apoorva Shastri and Sandhya Bhatt: A comprehensive book that also includes immunology. This is the primary book I use, covering most microbiology content.
- Anant Narayan: Another well-regarded book for microbiology, although I mainly use Shastri.
- Practical Microbiology by Shastri: This book is optional for practical exams since the main textbook already covers a lot of practical material.
- Review Book: The review book by Sandhya Bhatt and Shastri provides summarized content from the primary books, which is useful for quick revisions.
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## 3. Pharmacology
Pharmacology involves understanding drug mechanisms, and here are some top resources:
- KD Tripathi: This gold standard book is comprehensive yet easy to read with its student-friendly language.
- Katzung’s Basic and Clinical Pharmacology: Another detailed reference, though its language is more challenging. Use it for specific topics only.
- Middle Ground Books:
- Shanbhag: This concise option is helpful for quicker study sessions.
- Goodman and Gilman: A highly detailed pharmacology book but not necessary for all topics.
- Review Book: For quick revision, the review book by Govind Rai Garg and Sparsh Gupta is quite helpful.
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## 4. Forensic Medicine
Forensic Medicine may not be mandatory in all colleges in the second year, but it's a vital subject in medical practice.
- Essentials of Forensic Medicine by Rajesh Bardale: This book, written by a professor at GMC Nagpur, is thorough with lots of images, making it an excellent study tool.
- Synopsis by Reddy: A concise alternative if you’re looking for something shorter.
- Review Book: Arvind Arora integrates anatomy and forensic medicine, which can be beneficial for understanding applied anatomy concepts.
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## 5. Preventive and Social Medicine (PSM)
If PSM is part of your second-year curriculum, it’s essential to have a reliable book:
- Park’s Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine: This is the go-to book for PSM, covering everything you need to know for the subject.
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## Hospital Postings and Clinical Skills
In the second year, you’ll also have hospital postings, where you observe and learn from real patients. You might encounter departments like ENT, ophthalmology, surgery, and more. Clinical experience is essential for applying the knowledge you gain from your books.
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## Tips for Choosing the Right Books
Remember, the best book for you is the one that helps you understand and retain information. Try a few resources and stick with what works best for you rather than purchasing every recommended book.
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## Final Thoughts
Studying medicine is challenging, but with the right resources, you can make it manageable. This list covers the main books you’ll need for second-year MBBS. Don’t be intimidated by the number of books; focus on understanding the material.
Stay safe, healthy, and happy, everyone. If you found this guide helpful, please like, share, and subscribe to my channel for more study tips and resources!
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Thank you for reading, and best of luck in your studies!