Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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34 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
RR vs. BRS , March 22, 2007
First of all, I should say frankly, that I like review books from "Robbins" family - "Pocket Companion to Robbins & Cotran PBD" and "Robbins & Cotran Review of Pathology" - more than either "BRS Pathology" or "Rapid Review: Pathology"; on the other hand, if this combo is too much for you, then you should make your choice between BRS and RR; I think that both these books are mandatory if you want to be well prepared for step 1, but, again, this couldn't be an option for many people - they are forced to read either BRS or RR and have a big question - which one is better? my answer is - pick RR - you will not be disappointed.
OK, what do you like in BRS?
Do you like that there are glaring omissions of many high yield topics and you'll be unable to answer many questions on your USMLE step 1? or, maybe, do you like, that BRS has no explanations of mechanisms of pathophysiology - the flesh and bone of the USMLE step 1 - and you'll be forced to cram without understanding?
RR is much more complete and comprehensive; it ellegantly describes pathogenesis, leaving no stone unturned; this book even contains excellent integrated topics from other subjects - for example, concise and very high yield acid-base chapter.
Do you like that in BRS there are boring lengthy descriptions of gross and microscopic pathology, without any picture of what is desribed?
In RR you can find numerous full color slides and drawings, mostly, from "Robbins" - remember, that on your step 1 you'll get many pathology MCQs with accompanying pictures.
Or, do you like, that MCQs in BRS are too easy and not like those on the actual exam?
RR contains many USMLE-ish MCQs and even more - online.
BRS is oversimplified - you'll be reading mostly the stuff you already know, so, you wouldn't need much effort - that's why it's more easy to read BRS than RR - but don't be tempted by comfortable reading - RR will make your performance on the USMLE step 1 much better, than BRS.
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19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Very Difficult to Read, March 11, 2007
I've read through BRS Pathology many times, but I decided to give RR Pathology a try after hearing all the praise. I went through half of it so far and frankly I don't like it. I find it very difficult to read mainly because of its poor structure. It has improved over the first edition, but it still feels like a plethora of detail without any flow. Granted, there is quite alot of information that you won't find in the other books and it does integrate physiology better. But I really think there's too much detail and redundancy which makes it a less efficient source. After reading each chapter, I found it hard to retain alot of the detail.
My advice is, stick with the book that you feel most comfortable with and could easily master. Many students have done extremely well using BRS.
But most importantly, don't change books! If you know your first source well, don't jump to another thinking you'll have more knowledge. Most of the time, it will just confuse you more like this book did to me. Good luck.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Haven't touched my BRS pathology since I got this, February 5, 2007
If you have the old edition, strongly consider upgrading. There are tons of color images and clinical correlations. I love the way Goljan integrates concepts. For example, he'll mention something you learned in biochem and give you a brief reminder of the concept (sometimes with a little diagram) or he'll mention a drug or a vitamin and he'll remind you about the mechanisms. He even ties in a little anatomy every once in a while. It does make it take a little longer than the equivalent BRS chapter, but I feel like I remember it a lot better. I also feel like things are starting to fit together from all of the different subjects now. Also, there are high yield notes in the margins. You can run through them very quickly before an exam. You're guaranteed to get some questions right just from those margin notes. I'm using this now for class, but when I review for the boards, I know the high yield margin notes, clinical correlation boxes, and the charts will help with a quick review. I owned the last edition and bought this one because of the great updates. It was well worth spending the money.
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