Here’s a list of what some would consider the “classic” general surgery textbooks for those of us that enter surgical residency. I remember when I started residency that the goal was read one of these from cover to cover during my intern year. Admittedly, I did not succeed at that, but it is a worthwhile goal. While I ended up purchasing editions of most of these at one point or another, feel free to pick and choose what works best for you!
Keep in mind, there are tons of sub-specialty books and texts available that are also very valuable – this post is dedicated to the basics though.
- Schwartz’s Principles of Surgery
- Good for interns, i.e., good emphasis on the basics and physiology in addition to pathology
- Can be a little long winded on some points
- Thorough, even includes some chapters on orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, and global surgery (the most recent edition is almost 1,500 pages…yeesh)
- Link to book on Amazon
- Greenfield’s Surgery (most recent edition re-labeled Mulholland and Greenfield’s)
- Another really good thorough text, will hit on just about every topic
- I thought it was a little more “readable” or reader friendly than Schwartz, and the table of contents is better laid out in my opinion
- Still very thorough, almost 2,000 pages in the latest edition. A good reference book.
- Link to book on Amazon
- Sabiston Textbook of Surgery
- Some consider this “the” definitive reference book for surgery
- I remember my program director not recommending this for interns, as he thought this was more appropriate as a follow up reference after reviewing Schwartz’s or Greenfield’s, though some would disagree
- Interestingly, the only reference book I haven’t purchased for myself…no particular reason!
- Link to book on Amazon
- Current Surgical Therapy (Cameron’s)
- The most succinct and easily “readable” of the texts in my opinion
- Not as thorough in terms of topics as Schwartz and Greenfield, lacks a little in the basics or background information
- Better used as a reference when reviewing very specific topics as opposed to an overall review text
- Link to book on Amazon
Alternatively, if you’re specifically looking for a surgical atlas or operative procedure reference, the two I tend to gravitate towards the most are:
Disclaimer: of course the medical/surgical fields are always changing, and these textbooks are regularly updated every few years to incorporate the most up-to-date concepts and techniques in the field. That can obviously get expensive. There is a wealth of information online in primary research and publications that you will also find helpful in supporting your education and quest for knowledge.
Please note that I do not receive any monetary compensation if you purchase items from the links above. Happy studying!