Customer Reviews

Clinical Neuroanatomy Made Ridiculously Simple (3rd Edition; Book & CD-ROM)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I used this book to review for the USMLE Step 1 and really enjoyed it. In general, I've found the "Ridiculously Simple" Series to be better for me that "High Yield." Although the "Ridiculously Simple" books don't always pack in quite as much information, they are much better at helping you remember things with their clever drawings and mnemonics. And in the end, it's not what you went over but what you REMEMBER that counts. I also found this book quite useful for clearing up several clinical points that were not well covered in my neuroanatomy course. The only reason it gets 4 stars is that I wish some of the figures and drawings were a little better. But overall it's a great little book!

As a medical student, I suggest that this is the first place you go to learn about neuroanatomy. It gives you the basics and builds a foundation that you can build on. After a few hours with this book, I was weeks ahead of my classmates!

This skinny text is one of the few books that all medical students can read and benefit from. When I took neuroanatomy, it was regarded as the most difficult course in our first-year curriculum. Having read this book early in the course, and referring back to it several times, I got off to a great start. It won't tell you eveything you need to know, nor in the depth you'll need to know it. But 15 years ago, it was the most gentle introduction to neuroanatomy around; I'll bet not much has changed.

If you are the type of person who doesn't prefer non-informational quirks and innovative spins used in the presentation of hard scienfitic facts, then this book isn't for you. However, if you happen to find learning more entertaining and engaging when it includes a little bit of humor, imagination and creativity in its descriptions of what otherwise would be pretty dry material, then I would definitely suggest this book. Some people may find the kind of format it uses to be inappropriate or distracting, depending on their attitude towards learning in general, but I personally found it to be so witty and vividly personable compared to most textbooks that I almost felt like I was reading for recreation again (which I haven't done really to any extent since I enrolled in medical school and have had my head buried in books out of obligation).

On the whole, however, this book should be used only as a supplement to a conventional neurology text in order to gain a better conceptual understanding of neurology and a basic overview of the organization of its components and how they interact, because it actual content is abbreviated to the point where specific details that I will be required to know for exams are excluded.

An essential starting point. use it before heading to the big, hefty text you've been assigned. Extremely helpful during troubling times at lectures.

The book, in general, is excellent. It takes a very complex subject and tries to make it easier to understand. The addition of the CD for practice is very helpful indeed.
I would like nevertheless to say that the book is practically the same as in previous editions, up to page 83. Perhaps the addition of certain details would have been even better. For example:
In the Willis' circle to explain what happens in anterior communicating artery defects, in defects of the posterior circle. Mention the "arteries of stroke."
Please, do not misunderstand me. I am only making a suggestion. I have a great respect for professor Goldberg.

I do have a science background, but nothing specifically in neuroanatomy. The book cover and title seem to indicate that this book should be entertaining and "easy" to read. This book is not a cartoon book designed to stimulate memory and is definitely not simple or basic. I am sorry to say this but the line drawings are not the greatest quality. I think it is targeted to med students or doctors who need a very compact clinical symptom reference or a quick refresher but know neuroanatomy. Keep searching if you need an true introduction to neuroanatomy.

I think I may finally understand aspects of neuroanatomy and localizing lesions that have for some reason previously seemed incomprehensible. Now I comprehend - and it was painless. Great help.

I'm doing neuroscience as part of semester 4 of medicine at the University of Melbourne, Australia. I've only completed week 1 of this semester this week, but I'm finding this book to be such a big help.

After having lectures and tutorials involving all aspects of neuroanatomy already, such as gross anatomy of the CNS, cerebral blood flow, meninges, etc; reading the corresponding chapters of this book really, really helps it all gel in your own mind. The book is written in a nice conversational tone, like sitting and having a casual chat with your lecturer about the topic. Knowledge that seems vague after studying a textbook, lecture notes, a neuroanatomy atlas... really falls into place when you read this book.

I'd highly recommend this book to be used in this manner, as a consolidation tool as you're studying with your neurology text, anatomy atlas, etc. It's definitely not a "stand alone" text for a neuroanatomy course, I don't think you'd grasp the material properly if you went about it that way.

very short book....takes about 5-6 hours to read...the CD forget it...its crap...so hard to use and unclear...and if your using this book for USMLE 1, the CD is useless...but the text will help consolidate some of the facts in FIRST AID...the depth of the material is appropriate for usmle 1...over all its a good inexpensive book...and cleared up a lot of stuff i ddin't understand in my neuro course....