18 Books for Your Summer Reading List
Enjoy Books & Podcasts for Future Healthcare Leaders.
Dr. Hillary Weiss
Nothing jump‑starts a career in medicine like a great story. We’ve gathered the following books and podcasts to give aspiring healthcare leaders a head start on the science, ethics, and human drama they will soon encounter in real life.
Whether you dive into a memoir from the operating room or a podcast about medical mysteries, every item on this list builds your understanding of the field before you ever step into a lab.
Why This Book List Matters
Each selection was chosen because it does at least one of three things:
- Shows the human side of medicine, reminding us that every chart belongs to a person.
- Unpacks complex science in plain language, proving that rigorous ideas are accessible with the right guide.
- Confronts the social forces that shape health outcomes so tomorrow’s professionals can deliver care that is both cutting‑edge and just.
Non-Fiction / Memoirs
The Emperor of All Maladies
Siddhartha Mukherjee
A biography of cancer that
blends science, history, and
human resilience.
When Breath Becomes Air
Paul Kalanithi
A neurosurgeon reflects on life and mortality after a terminal diagnosis.
The Man Who Mistook His Wife
for a Hat
Oliver Sacks
Fascinating case studies about
the mysteries of the human
brain.
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down
Anne Fadiman
A powerful story of cultural
conflict and the need for
empathy in medicine.
Science and Medicine for Everyone
Stiff
Mary Roach
A surprisingly funny and respectful exploration of what happens to the body after death.
The Body
Bill Bryson
A fascinating and accessible tour of the human body that blends science, history, and surprising facts in Bryson’s signature storytelling style.
Ethics, Justice, and Society
The Immortal Life of Henrietta
Lacks
Rebecca Skloot
How one woman’s cells transformed
science without her consent.
What the Eyes Don’t See
Mona Hanna-Attisha
The Flint Water Crisis, exposed by a determined pediatrician.
Five Days at Memorial
Sheri Fink
A gripping nonfiction narrative that reads like a novel, chronicling the ethical chaos inside a New Orleans hospital after Hurricane Katrina — when doctors had to make life-ordeath decisions.
Fiction with Medical Themes
Cutting for Stone
Abraham Verghese
Twin brothers grow up in an Ethiopian hospital in this
unforgettable epic.
Unbroken: 13 Stories Starring Disabled Teens
Marieke Nijkamp
A series of different stories that explore the lives of teens who have different disabilities.
Podcasts Worth Prescribing
Bedside Rounds
Short, story‑driven episodes spotlighting strange and fascinating moments in medical history.
This Podcast Will Kill You
Engaging deep dives into diseases that blend science, history, and gripping storytelling.
Sawbones
A hilarious tour through the weird and wild past of medical treatment, hosted by a doctor‑comedian duo.
From memoirs that reveal medicine’s human side to podcasts that turn complex science into compelling stories, this list is a launchpad for your journey into healthcare. Choose one title that sparks your curiosity, share what you learn with friends, and keep exploring. Your future patients—and the medical community—will benefit from the insight you start building today.
The High School Alliance of Future Physicians
Have Questions?
Join our Connect Community to directly ask your questions to practicing physicians, college advisors, and former admissions officers for FREE.
Recent Articles
