Instant Notes Biochemistry?

**Jenny** · 05-10-2005, 06:45 PM

Is it any good?

My lecturer (who wrote the damn thing) is being a cheeky git, plugging it 10 times and day and setting us useful tasks like 'before our next lecture, you must read sections AB and C of INSTANT NOTES BIOCHEMISTRY, my fantastic book!'. The fact that there's only about 20 copies in the library to go around 250 med freshers makes it virtually impossible to not buy it, but I don't like him and he's annoying me and I'm really feeling like I want to deliberately not get it just to spite him.

What other biochem books are good? Everyone I know in the second year was bullied into buying Instant Notes so I don't really have any other recommendations.

**Tangliss** · 05-10-2005, 06:50 PM

I will have to buy that too, was told it's an excellent source of information.

**Jenny** · 05-10-2005, 06:55 PM

But I thought (correct me if I'm wrong...) that the instant notes books were good, but more of a condensed revision kinda thing rather than a detailed textbook?

**Tangliss** · 05-10-2005, 06:56 PM

That's the impression I get too. However, seems thatit must be good if a number of universites are asking their students to purchase them?

**Jenny** · 05-10-2005, 07:59 PM

Guess so. Just wanted a second opinion since obviously the bloke who wrote the book is coming off as kinda biased.

Thanks

**Jenny** · 05-10-2005, 08:01 PM

Just out of curiosity, which med school are you at?

**pretoria** · 05-10-2005, 10:45 PM

I got suckered into buying Instant Notes by that lecturer too. It was the most annoying book purchase ever cos you only need it for the first term, and I thought it was pretty useless. Mind you, I have a very old copy of Stryer, which I rather like.

I wouldn't buy if it I were you, but if you decide you can't avoid it, you can buy mine for £10 - it looks totally brand new!

**Jenny** · 05-10-2005, 11:11 PM

Cheers for the advice Pretoria. If not Instant Notes, what should I buy instead?

I am going to have to purchase some form of biochemistry book since getting one from the library is proving to be a pain in the arse.

**Jenny** · 05-10-2005, 11:59 PM

Never mind! My second year medic daddy is letting me borrow his copy of Instant Notes for the first term. LOVING the MUMS scheme, my 'parents' are great.

Thanks for the offer and the advice Pretoria.

**stargazer** · 20-10-2005, 01:19 AM

You're right Jenny, it's a terrible book! After his hard sell I went out and bought a copy of Master Medicine Medical Biochemistry which I find infinitely preferable. I'm really fed up with all this Biochem and we've only been doing it 3 weeks!