Summer Reading
Recomendations for DPT and PTA Students, by Students
Remember the summer reading assignments you had in elementary school where if you participated you'd get stickers, prizes, or the beloved free kids meal? We certainly do! And although it is summer and you're ready to kick back and relax—sans reading assignments—your fellow classmates have a few reads they think you should check out.
Some of the recommendations are physical therapy related, but some are not. So without further ado, and sorry…also without stickers, prizes, and a free kids meal, here's a list of suggested summer reads:
A Common Struggle by Patrick Kennedy, and Left Neglected and Still Alice by Lisa Genova
"They aren't specific to physical therapy but they are all patient/health related." - Gabriella
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
"A good one to read as a health care professional." – Mia
The Empathy Exams: Essays by Leslie Jamison
"Very interesting discussion and viewpoints on empathy, especially surrounding the medical field." - Maddie
Chasing Daylight by Eugene O'Kelly and Corinne O'Kelly
"This memoir is both inspirational and useful for dealing with the dying patient." – Elizabeth
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
"A book about the ‘lives' of cadavers. Informative, yet surprisingly (and respectfully) funny. Unusual to say the least." – Jeff
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
"It's surprisingly simple but also useful and solid information." – Dylan
Ghost Boy: The Miraculous Escape of a Misdiagnosed Boy Trapped Inside His Own Body by Martin Pistorius
"It's his experience with health care providers after becoming basically completely paralyzed and mute, when people thought he couldn't understand them." – Jordan
Crucial Conversations Tools for Talking When Stakes are High by Kerry Patterson and Joseph Grenny
"Great, not just professionally but also in personal life." – Samantha
How Far Can You Go?: My 25-Year Quest to Walk Again by John Maclean and Mark Tabb
"This is a great book for any PT to read!" – Aimee
Run, Don't Walk: The Curious and Courageous Life Inside Walter Reed Army Medical Center by Adele Levine
"It's about physical therapy at Walter Reed – such a unique place, lots of laughing throughout." – Shannon
Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach
"It's a brief fable about the journey of self-actualization, the pursuit of true passion, and living life to the fullest." – Bunny
Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg
"Great read!! She talks about how, as women, it is difficult to climb the corporate ladder and tips/strategies to aide in the climb." – Kala
Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas D Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
"Really eye-opening about the struggles women face worldwide and real solutions to those problems." – Elizabeth
Brain Maker: The Power of Gut Microbes to Heal and Protect Your Brain–for Life by David Perlmutter
"It dives into the research on systemic inflammation as the underlying common feature between conditions from diabetes to Alzheimer's to PD to depression. Very interesting so far." – Kelly
The Last Well Person: How to Stay Well Despite the Health-Care System by Nortin Hadler
"All young health professionals should read it to get a general sense of the profound problems in our health care delivery system."– John