Let me start by saying that I saw that Sparky had done this on the UWCM forum, it struck me as a good idea so thought I would steal it.
The following is a list of texts that are generally accepted as the most complimentary to the first year of the Durham medical course.
Anatomy
ALTERATION
The recommended text for gross anatomy has changed. As of this year the anatomy department are recommending that students buy:
Gray's Anatomy for Students .
Clinically Oriented Anatomy by Moore and Dalley (colloquially known as "Big Moore's") ISBN 0-683-06141-0.
Edit:
Essential Clinical Anatomy By Moore and Agur. Included here as a lightweight text to use along side Clinically Oriented Anatomy. Not enough detail to learn from, but can be handy for revision, or when you don't want to carry around Big Moore's.
Physiology (Cardiovascular, Respiratory and Renal Medicine etc)
Physiology by Berne and Levy ISBN 0323022251
Some prefer
Human Physiology: The Basis of Medicine by Pocock and Richards; ISBN 0192625381 (though it doesn't go into sufficient detail in most areas so is generally used in conjunction with Berne and Levy, if at all).
Histology
Wheater's Functional Histology by Wheater (originally) now Young and Heath, ISBN 0443056129. This is an absolutely
essential purchase, not least because all of the exam questions are set from it and involve photos found within its pages.
Pharmacology
Pharmacology by Rang et al ISBN 0443071454 (or 0443059748 for 1999 edition)
Embryology
Human Embryology by Larsen ISBN 0443065837 (this is a horrendous area, Larsen's just about makes it understandable).
Edit:
Clinical Skills and Living Anatomy
(Thought I would add a section for clinical skills)
If you are particularly enthusiastic about getting practical procedures right, then the full text of
Macleod's Clinical Examination by Macleod, Munro and Campbell, ISBN 0443061726 is rather a good buy. It covers all of the clinical skills for both first and second year, and is one of the recommended texts for third year (so you will need a copy eventually!) Not an essential first year purchase by any means, but certainly useful in the long run when
Introduction to Clinical Examination doesn't provide enough detail.
General
You might also want to consider some of the recommended "ABC" series of books published by the BMJ, which cover most topics (I won't give a list as they litterally cover everything).
Clinical Medicine by Kumar and Clark is rather useful, though you can get through without it.
The Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine is a wonderful reference book that you might want to consider at this stage. It won't be of great use to you until clinical years, but it is one of the best books around if you need to know about diagnosis and management of the commoner medical conditions. Can live without it in first year, but you will want one eventually (see third year booklist).
On a different tack I would advise against buying the "essential text"
Growing Up in Britain: Ensuring a Healthy Future for Our Children . I know about ten people who own a copy, and only one person has ever actually read it - it really is something of a waste of money.
Hope this is useful, if anyone else would like to add any more then please feel free.
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