The Med School Resources series is a compilation of the most useful resources for studying medicine. To check out the other articles, click on the links below:
A “Minimalist” Approach to Using Textbooks
Surprisingly, textbooks are usually not a strict requirement for medical school, save for select chapters or readings that your lecturer will set for a specific module. This is because we learn most of our content from the lecture materials. These lecture slides or notes will be tailored to your school’s syllabus and teaching sequence.
Nevertheless, textbooks are great reference materials. With their credible content and amazing diagrams, they can be useful supplements to our learning. The problem is, there’s a myriad of options to choose from, and varying opinions on which is “the best”.
You can certainly try to get your hands on all of them. But ultimately, it’s good to have just one main textbook that you refer to for each subject area. Of course, you can always have ancillary ones for further reference if needed. But by having just one go-to text, it helps to clarify your mental process. You won’t waste time shuttling between different texts, trying to decide which is best—especially when you just need a quick reference.
Having a “minimalist” or “lean” approach to using textbooks also ensures that you’ll actually read or refer to some of them. If you fixate on amassing many resources, chances are most of them will lie untouched.
How This List Was Selected
This list of the best textbooks for medical students was curated after consulting hundreds of resources and opinions, ranging from medical schools’ booklists to articles, reviews, student forums, and medical students’ experiences.
One main textbook is listed for each broad subject area (e.g. anatomy, physiology). Of course, what’s “best” may be subjective, so alternatives have been included for consideration. A few better ones are highlighted as “popular alternatives”. The rest are really just “options”, which you needn’t consider if you’d like a dilemma-free textbook selection process.
(Note: Textbooks on clinical skills and clinical medicine are not included in this list.)
The Best Medical Textbooks by Subject Area
Anatomy: Gray’s Anatomy for Students
Gray’s Anatomy for Students is the students’ version of Gray’s Anatomy, which remains the definitive, comprehensive reference on human anatomy. The illustrations are great and it’s easy to read. Many medical students have this as their go-to text for anatomy. Like all the other options below, the text is organised by regions (not by body systems).
Popular Alternative: Moore’s Clinically Oriented Anatomy
Moore’s Clinically Oriented Anatomy is also immensely popular among medical students. It is on par with Gray’s in terms of its illustrations and readability. Some would argue that Gray’s illustrations are better or that the text offers more clarity—these are personal preferences. Other like Moore’s for the “Clinical Blue Boxes”, but Gray’s also has “In the clinic” boxes, which relates the anatomy to its clinical significance. There are probably bits of content in one that may not be in the other, but both offer very a complete coverage of the subject matter.
Other Anatomy Textbooks
- Snell’s Clinical Anatomy: The illustrations are definitely not as nice. You’d be better off choosing between Gray’s and Moore’s.
- BRS Gross Anatomy: Part of the Board Review Series, widely used by US medical students studying for the USMLE Step 1. Good for high-yield notes and USMLE-style practice questions, but not a full-on textbook. – may be more USMLE-oriented
Anatomy (Atlas): Netter’s Atlas of Human Anatomy
Netter’s Atlas of Human Anatomy has simply the best anatomical diagrams. The labelled illustrations are vibrantly coloured with exquisite detail. While there are other options, Netter’s is favoured by most.
Other Anatomy Atlases
- Thieme Atlas of Anatomy: Includes short explanations and tables, (whereas Netter’s is just full-page diagrams). The images have a less hand-painted feel (more like Gray’s style).
- Gray’s Atlas of Anatomy: The atlas version of Gray’s Anatomy. Style of images is similar to that seen in the Gray’s textbook. It is not as widely recommended as an atlas.
- Sobotta Atlas of Anatomy: Includes captions to each figure. Art style is more like Netter’s.
- Photographic Atlas of Anatomy (Rohen): Full-colour photographs of actual cadaver dissections. It’s not bad for looking at real specimens, but good to pair it with a complete set of standard illustrations like Netter’s.
- Grant’s Dissector: Step-by-step human cadaver dissection procedures. (Usually not required, probably only if used by your school.)
Embryology: Langman’s Medical Embryology
Langman’s Medical Embryology is the go-to book in this field, with its comprehensive material and nice illustrations. It covers everything you need to know (usually more). Very helpfully, it’s divided into two parts: General Embryology and Systems-Based Embryology. “Clinical Correlates” boxes highlight the clinical relevance.
Popular Alternative: Moore’s The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology
While Langman’s is more often cited as the go-to embryology text, Moore’s The Developing Human comes in a very, very close second. Just like Langman’s, the first few chapters cover the stages of embryonic development, and the later chapters dive into each organ system. Again, similar to Langman’s, boxed content highlight congenital defects—the clinical significance.
This was the most difficult choice on the list. Moore’s diagrams are amazing, and some may be superior to Langman’s. My suggestion is to focus less on the text—good to go with either (or neither i.e. use your lecture materials)—and use a mix of diagrams from Langman’s and Moore’s (they’ll likely be featured in your lecture slides as well).
Other Embryology Textbooks
- Larsen’s Human Embryology: Another very good alternative to Langman’s and Moore’s, with all the same features outlined above. Diagrams are great! That’s why you use your school’s lecture materials (or Google images) to get the best of all worlds.
- BRS Embryology: Part of the Board Review Series, widely used by US medical students studying for the USMLE Step 1. Good for high-yield notes and USMLE-style practice questions, but not a full-on textbook. – may be more USMLE-oriented
- High-Yield Embryology: Part of the High-Yield Series, which extracts the most important information and presents a concentrated, efficient review of embryology material tested on the USMLE Step 1. Graphics are not coloured. Go with BRS Embryology for high-yield notes. – may be more USMLE-oriented
Histology: Junqueira’s Basic Histology
With its full-colour, high-quality micrographs and accompanying graphics, Junqueira’s Basic Histology is lauded for its near-perfect combination of text and images. It covers everything, going first into the broad tissue types, then organ system-specific histology.
Popular Alternative: Wheater’s Functional Histology
Although Junqueira’s is usually recommended as the top choice, Wheater’s Functional Histology is just as good. It is organised in a similar fashion, covering The Cell, Basic Tissue Types, and Organ Systems. An advantage is that the text is slightly more concise compared to Junqueira’s.
Other Histology Textbooks
- Histology: A Text and Atlas (Ross): A good alternative to Junqueira’s and Wheater’s, with similar organisation of content.
- Color Atlas and Text of Histology (Gartner): Another good alternative to Junqueira’s and Wheater’s, with similar organisation of content.
- BRS Cell Biology and Histology: Part of the Board Review Series, widely used by US medical students studying for the USMLE Step 1. Good for high-yield notes and USMLE-style practice questions, but not a full-on textbook. – may be more USMLE-oriented
Physiology: Costanzo’s Physiology
Costanzo’s Physiology is a gem. It has just the right level of depth required for pre-clinical medical students. Well-designed figures and tables provide handy visuals and make complex principles easy to understand. The text is readable and clear.
Popular Alternative: Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology
While Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology is dubbed the bible of physiology, the content is too dense at some parts and not as readable as Costanzo’s. It is perhaps good for reference, but otherwise, Costanzo’s wins hands down.
Other Physiology Textbooks
- Ganong’s Review of Medical Physiology: An alternative to Costanzo’s, though Costanzo’s is still best overall. Since it is a review, it’s less dense than Guyton and Hall.
- BRS Physiology: Part of the Board Review Series, widely used by US medical students studying for the USMLE Step 1. Good for high-yield notes and USMLE-style practice questions, but not a full-on textbook. – may be more USMLE-oriented
Pathology: Robbins Basic Pathology
Without a doubt, Robbins Basic Pathology is the best textbook on the subject. You don’t have to read the denser Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease (aka Big Robbins). You could check out the “shorter” versions, in descending order of depth:
- Robbins and Cotran Review of Pathology
- Robbins Essential Pathology
- Pocket Companion to Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease
However, as a textbook, Robbins Basic Pathology is the one that offers the right amount of depth and should be your go-to.
Other Pathology Textbooks
- Rapid Review Pathology (Goljan): Favoured by US medical students studying for the USMLE Step 1, Step 2, or course exams. Good for high-yield notes and USMLE course review, but not a full-on textbook. – may be more USMLE-oriented
- Fundamentals of Pathology (Pathoma): Favoured by US medical students studying for the USMLE Step 1. Good for high-yield notes and USMLE course review, but not a full-on textbook. – may be more USMLE-oriented
- BRS Pathology: Part of the Board Review Series, widely used by US medical students studying for the USMLE Step 1. Good for high-yield notes and USMLE-style practice questions, but not a full-on textbook. – may be more USMLE-oriented
Microbiology: Lange Review of Medical Microbiology and Immunology
For Microbiology, it’s best to look for review books, since the level of detail will be too great in the thicker volumes. Review of Medical Microbiology and Immunology is succinct and high-yield, without compromising on readability. The content is very well-organised, spanning Bacteriology, Virology, Mycology, Parasitology, Immunology, Ectoparasites, and Infectious Diseases. The tables and summaries are especially helpful.
Other Microbiology Textbooks
- Lippincott Illustrated Reviews: Microbiology: Similar to the Lange review; a good level of depth for medical school.
- Mims’ Medical Microbiology and Immunology: A very comprehensive text with nice images. The downside is that there’s probably too much detail.
- Prescott’s Microbiology: Similar to Mims’; unnecessarily comprehensive and in-depth for most medical school purposes.
- Sherris Medical Microbiology: In-depth text covering all aspects of medical microbiology; far too in-depth at this stage.
- Textbook of Diagnostic Microbiology (Mahon): More suitable for practicing microbiologists.
- Bailey & Scott’s Diagnostic Microbiology: Similar to Mahon’s; not really required for pre-clinical medical students.
- Clinical Microbiology Made Ridiculously Simple (Gladwin): Touted as a classic by US medical students. The book breaks content down into digestible portions, with silly drawings to aid memorisation. It may not be the best if you’re looking for a traditional reference textbook.
Immunology: Janeway’s Immunobiology
Janeway’s Immunobiology the classic textbook for immunology. It’s comprehensive and best used for its informative illustrations and tables. As with most other full-size textbooks on this list, some parts contain more detail than is required.
Popular Alternative: Kuby Immunology
Kuby Immunology rivals Janeway’s. Its graphics are excellent, and some may even surpass Janeway’s. The biggest advantage is that it’s more concise than Janeway’s, yet still a very comprehensive textbook.
Other Immunology Textbooks
- Essentials of Clinical Immunology: This textbook is clinically focused and simple yet thorough. Diagrams are nice but fewer than in Janeway’s or Kuby.
- The Immune System (Parham): Similar to Kuby as a condensed alternative to Janeway’s, but considerably shorter and more concise. May not be the reference book that some would prefer.
- How the Immune System Works (Sompayrac): Cuts through the jargon to provide readers with a clear and engaging understanding of the subject. Good for understanding concepts in immunology, but not a comprehensive reference textbook.
- BRS Microbiology and Immunology: Part of the Board Review Series, widely used by US medical students studying for the USMLE Step 1. Good for high-yield notes and USMLE-style practice questions, but not a full-on textbook. – may be more USMLE-oriented
Make It A Dilemma-Free Process
Many textbooks are great, and sometimes when choosing between two options, it’s really give and take. Searching up more reviews doesn’t do any good. Save yourself the dilemma, choose a main one and stick with it. Google and Google Images the rest (if that’s not already the first place you go to). If you just follow the list above—without even considering the alternatives—you’d be good to go.
Mostly though, you won’t even have time to master all the content in your lecture materials. So, except for any required readings set out in specific modules, take textbooks as just extra reference material—consulted only when needed. There are much more efficient and effective ways to study medicine than reading a textbook cover-to-cover.
Please feel free to share your favourite textbooks too, especially if they aren’t listed above! Simply leave a comment below. Don’t forget to check out the other articles in the Med School Resources series too. (Disclaimer: There are no affiliate links on this page. All embedded links lead directly to the publisher’s page, where you can view the table of contents and other details for each book.)