We are all concerned about our health, and if we want to learn some basics about how our body works, medical books are a good way to get started on the subject .

Medicine has been one of the greatest contributors to the improvement of life we have experienced in the last centuries. It is so important to us that it is normal that we are curious to know about it, especially if we are interested in mental health. Medicine is a science that is closely linked to psychology, as health is both physical and mental . This list of medical books may satisfy the curiosity of people interested in this subject.

Recommended books on medicine and psychiatry, in Spanish

There is a multitude of literature around medicine and its various sub-disciplines that study the human body, diseases and ways of curing them.

Here I have selected a series of texts and books that help to spread this science of health so that we all have access to this knowledge, without needing to have a great basis on the subject. And all of them are books on medicine in Spanish, so as not to lose a single letter.

1. To be mortal. Medicine and what matters in the end (Atul Gawande)

We all agree that medicine is important for our health, but what about our death? Atul Gawande, an eminent American surgeon, exposes in this medical book the limitations of the current health system that only cares about prolonging survival no matter what the cost, especially when death is looming.

An easy and enjoyable read, despite dealing with thorny issues such as the end of life.

  • On this page there is more information about the book.

2. Complications: A Surgeon’s Confessions of Imperfect Science (Atul Gawande)

Another work by surgeon Atul Gawande, but on this occasion exposes real cases where medicine has not found an answer to what was happening to the patient or mistakes have been made in diagnosis. With a most appealing narrative, Dr. Gawande shows once again that medicine is not an exact science and life holds surprises.

  • If you have been interested, you can find out more at the following link.

3. The Emperor of All Evils: A Biography of Cancer (Siddhartha Mukherjee)

Cancer, unfortunately, is an important part of our present day. With this medical book, the author presents the history of oncology from its origin to the most modern treatments in an informative style, as well as reflecting on the existing relationship with this group of diseases.

  • More information about the book is available here.

4. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (Rebecca Skloot)

If I name Henrietta Lacks you might not know who she is, but if I mention “HeLa cell” it might change things. This line of immortal cells have been very useful for medicine and especially in the fight against cancer , they have a past. The writer Rebecca Skloot presents us with the life of this peasant woman, the history of her cells and the injustice built around them.

  • If you are attracted to the subject, you can find more information about the book at this link.

5. The man who mistook his wife for a hat (Oliver Sacks)

A classic by Oliver Sacks, considered one of the great clinical writers of the 20th century. In this book of medicine, 20 real cases of people with strange or curious neurological diseases are presented . A moving work, which aims to show how complicated and complex the human brain is.

  • At this link you have more information.

6. Cold cuts: the fascinating life of the corpse (Mary Roach)

The psychologist and journalist Mary Roach presents with this work what happens to our body after we die . A pleasant and enjoyable reading, in spite of the topic, which wants to transmit the importance that corpses have offered in the advance of science, or how important organ donation is to save other lives.

  • You can learn more about the book by clicking here.

7. Hot zone (Richard Preston)

The award-winning Richard Preston wrote this medical book in 1994, chronicling events that took place in a laboratory run by the United States Army, where the Ebola virus was being studied. The title refers to the names of laboratories working with highly lethal and highly contagious viruses or bacteria.

He was the first writer who informed the general public about the dangers of this virus , which is still a great threat in the world today.

  • If you want to know more, follow the link below.

8. A Tribe of Your Own (Steve Silberman)

What is autism? This is how this work by journalist Steve Silberman begins. He wants to bring the general public closer to this mental disorder, covering the history of his research, but also the importance of its presence in the scientific progress of our days.

  • On this page you will find more information.

9. First of all, do no harm (Henry Marsh)

The autobiography of the neurosurgeon Henry Marsh , is a way of seeing and feeling what a delicate profession is like that he has carried out throughout his life. It presents different cases he has worked on and the results of these, whether positive or negative, showing once again that medicine is made by humans, and therefore is not perfect.

  • You can find more information about the book here.

10. The Demon of Depression: An Atlas of Disease (Andrew Solomon)

Depression is one of the most common diseases today. This classic among medical and psychiatric books presents the basis for knowing everything that is known about the disease. The writer of the book, Andrew Solomon, presents his experience in the fight against his own depression, as well as other real cases to contrast the information offered.

  • In this link you can see more details of the text.

11. To die young, at 140 (Maria A. Blasco and Monica G. Salome)

A very interesting book about the aging process and death by natural causes Is it the same to live longer than to be younger for longer? How do our cells degrade? Is there a maximum age for death? In addition, it is a very well documented medical book.

  • You can read more about the book on this page.

12. Atlas of Human Anatomy (Frank H. Netter)

Knowledge of the structure of the human body is essential for medicine . One of the most widely used medical books to learn about the subject is Frank H. Netter’s atlas of human anatomy, because of its ease of use and excellent illustrations that accompany the work.

  • If you want to know more, follow this link.

15. Guyton and Hall. A Treatise on Medical Physiology (John E. Hall)

The medical manual par excellence for understanding and comprehending human physiology . Originally written by the physiologist Arthur Guyton who suffered from polio, wanting to leave testimony of all his knowledge to future generations that continue to be nourished by the latest advances in physiology, even though its original author is no longer with us.

  • You can find out more about the play at the following link.

14. The Obese Monkey (José Enrique Campillo Álvarez)

Why is there so much obesity? Professor Campillo offers his answer in his essay. The text serves as a didactic introduction to the basic metabolic processes of the human being, and also wants to demonstrate the relationship of our genes with obesity problems.

  • If you are interested in the book, you will find more information here.

15. Bad Science (Ben Goldacre)

We are in a society that is obsessed with health and therefore susceptible to deception . In this book, the writer and psychiatrist Ben Goldacre dismantles with arguments the “miracle remedies” that they offer us every day, as well as explaining how we have come to believe in them and offering tools to discover these fraudulent sciences that, in the case of the health sciences, become especially dangerous.

  • In this link you will be able to know more about the book.

16. Digestion is the issue (Giulia Enders)

The intestine is one of the most important organs of the human body , since almost all the nutrients that will be part of our body will pass through it. However, it is also the great forgotten one, a component of our organism that, in popular culture, is undervalued. This excellent book helps us to know it better and to know how to take care of it.

  • To read more about it, click here.

…and some medical books in other languages

Here you can find other recommended medical books if languages are not a problem for you:

17. Trick or treatment (Edzard Ernst and Simon Singh)

A complete book that reviews the evidence behind the proposals of alternative medicine, what is true and what is a myth in them.

  • If you are interested, click here.

18. Good germs, bad germs (Jessica Snyder Sachs)

The simple use and development of antibiotics is one of the main resources that have allowed us to extend our life expectancy and build healthier societies with greater well-being. However, during the last decades our battle against harmful microorganisms is taking a dramatic turn due to the resistance to these medicines that are developing certain microscopic forms of life. This medical book explains the state of affairs in a clear, simple and enjoyable way.

  • In this link you will find more information about the book.

19. Testing treatments (Imogen Evans, Hazel Thornton, Ian Chalmers)

An excellent book to better understand how treatment proposals are tested in the medical world, by reviewing basic theory and using several case studies as examples.

  • To read more about it, click here.

20. What Doctors Feel (Danielle Ofri)

An interesting look at the psychology of health professionals – Although doctors and surgeons have a reputation for being cold healing machines, the truth is that they also have to manage their emotions (and their beliefs and thoughts) at work, and this interesting book is full of fascinating research on this subject.

  • If you are interested, click here.