Customer Reviews

First Aid for the Basic Sciences, Organ Systems (First Aid Series)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I really don't understand how a book could be produced with this many mistakes. To be fair, I'm not sure if I've ever had the first edition of a text/review book before, but this thing is rife with glaring errors. And here's the bad news: I'm really, really not that great a med student. So if I'm seeing THESE mistakes, what else is there to be found?

I get that one or two mistakes are going to get through, especially in a fact-heavy volume like this. But there's some pretty serious conceptual screw-ups here, too. You've been warned...

I have my fair share of review books -- First Aid USMLE 2009, the entire BRS series, Goljan's Rapid Review Path, etc -- but if i had to choose 1 book to use, I would pick First Aid: Organ Systems. I was never a big fan of the format of the first aid books; however, organ systems is written in paragraph form, rather than outline form. It's easy to follow and a great book to use along with regular course work. The margins are nice and wide which allows for annotation. Yes, it's true there are some errors, but there is a correction list published on the First Aid website (its 3 pages long, and most of the corrections are grammatical errors -- it took me an hour to make all the corrections in the book). I personally think all medical students should invest in this review book.

I used this book along with my organ systems themed pathology course to get a good review of the anatomy, embryology, physiology and pharmacology involved with that specific organ system. The book has errors in it, but nothing overly major, and the errata includes most of them. Additionally, it helped me to read more critically, and conscientiously, paying attention to what I was reading (You can submit the errors for a potential gift card). I liked that it was more text and explanation, and filled in many of the holes left out in first aid for step 1. Overall, it was a great review resource that I would use again.

I wish I would have had this book all year long. If your a MSI or MSII, this book is a must have. This book helps put it all together and helps you prepare not only for boards, but your med school exams... The format is EASY on the eyes and filled with great memory aids throughout each system. The classic FA doesnt even read like a book, and is lacking in information and to compensate you'd constantly be adding your old notes in. With this book, its done for you.

I bought both First aid basic sciences and have the same review for both: DO NOT BUY UNTIL NEXT EDITION. This book has so many errors, there was a 5 page errata in the first few months after is was sold and from what I've heard there are people finding more errors. It's a great book, well organized, good charts and good diagrams, but its filled with errors. It's not worth my time to study and then have to review to find out whether what I studied was correct. I wish I could have the next edition with (hopefully) no mistakes, but I'll be taking boards before they release it, if they ever do decide to fix this disaster.

For more than 10 years and the recipe for step 1 , was first aid +kaplan notes , which comes with the pain of adding and cross-reference both sources in a desperate attempt to formulate ur single source, now with this book in hand the new Recipe is First Aid and that's it.

The most conclusive book for step 1
Pros:
1-the favorite first Aid style and flavor
2-enhanced lay out with full color and memory boxes. key facts on the margins, very cheerful lay out
3-Conclusive
4-user friendly
5-neurology and neuroantomy very very well written
6- all the painful work done for you, just sip and study
7- i wish i had this book while doing my step 1, its an extra luxury and pampering , though i bought the book , because very once in a while u need to go back to the basics.
8- powerful tool for revisiting the basic science in the least painful way
9- plenty of graphic illustrations in full color, CTs, Pathology images

cons:
so far no major defects, but its a shear volume so i might update this in the near future after finishing some more chapters , the Musculo-skeletal and connective tissue chapter needs more details.

for step 1 takers i guess u have to combine it with its sister volume, general principals

Errata and corrections
http://firstaidteam.com/updates-and-corrections/

I'm personally looking forward to the 2nd and 3rd editions of this book. this particular edition has an overwhelming number of errors, but it's on it's way to being a fantastic reference text. I used this during my neuroscience coursework and aced the exam, and cherry picked through the sections as I was studying for step 1 and found it incredibly useful for that as well. Only problem is the errors, like I said, and sometimes it's just too much information, so towards the end of my studies it got put on the back burner. I'd recommend this book from the beginning of second year onward, and as a reference text during preparation for the step 1. I think if they edit the errors this will end up being a huge go to text. I really liked it and definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good supplement for coursework and who isn't a fan of the bulletpoint writing style that so many of these board review books seem to love.

I loved using this book. It had concise explanations and and a lot of pictures (color), illustrations, and helpful mnemonics. I highly recommend using it while taking your classes especially path and studying for the step.

i Think it is bretty wise from the Author ot post the list with the correction errors here,,becuase the books are marvilous and i brought them but i got sad when i read about the mistakes,,please Jentile man Author,,we need you to post your errors mistake for us here...it is bretty fair for us. Thank you evry much

hey guys,

This book is a must have , i just started my 2nd and last term in MD2 . i'm using this book along with my systemic path and pharm class and so far so good .. it has a nice flow and really breaks it down for you in steps, nice graphs, pics and tables. I just started using this book so i'm not to far into it , their are some minor errors in the book that u could fix as you go along each chapter, it took me 5 min to fix a all the minor errors in the cardiovascular system and it's really not as bad as some people say .. i plan on taking my Step 1 in july and i will for sure use this book along with the 1st aid and some BRS/kaplan books .. Good lucks