When to Use Foreign vs. Indian Authors in MBBS

Medical textbooks can sometimes feel like a mountain you have to climb while juggling 100 other things—classes, clinicals, exams, and college drama. They are HUGE.

The sheer volume can be overwhelming. What can be equally overwhelming is trying to figure out whether to read intimidating foreign textbooks or stick to the more manageable Indian authors’ books. 

So, how do you decide which to read and when? Let’s break it down, subject by subject, and figure out how to get through MBBS a little more smoothly.

Anatomy: The Atlas Is Your Best Friend (Gray’s Anatomy Can Wait)

The first thing that comes to mind when you think of anatomy books is Gray’s Anatomy, right? Well, I’m here to tell you: Gray’s is great, but a little too great. 

Anatomy is intense, no doubt. If you’re already feeling overwhelmed by the shift from NEET to MBBS life, adding Gray’s detailed anatomy to the mix will only make things worse. It’s a beast, and it’ll just end up confusing you with details you don’t really need for your exams.

Instead, B.D. Chaurasia or Vishram Singh should be your go-to resources. The Netter’s Atlas of Human Anatomy, offers fantastic visualizations that make understanding anatomy much easier. You can literally picture the body structures in 3D, which helps a lot more than sifting through pages of dense text. 

Once you’ve completed the entire syllabus twice (if that’s possible) you can pick up Gray’s for more detail. 

Physiology: Master the Basics Before Jumping to Guyton

Now, physiology—Guyton and Hall is a legendary book, no doubt about it. But let me say this: do not rush into Guyton in your first year unless you feel totally comfortable with the NEET-to-MBBS shift. It’s detailed, comprehensive, and a tad overwhelming if you’re still getting used to medical school life.

Start with A.K. Jain or Indu Khurana, they are perfect for the basics and give you the exam-oriented approach you need. Guyton can be your next step once you’ve gotten comfortable and you’re ready to understand physiology even better. If Guyton feels like too much, try Costanzo’s Physiology, which strikes a balance between Indian and standard books.

Biochemistry: Stick to Vasudevan, Harper Can Wait

When it comes to Biochemistry, there’s no need to dive straight into Harper’s Biochemistry unless you’re a superhuman (or you really feel like it). If Satyanarayan is too easy, switch to Vasudevan. 

Once you feel like you’ve mastered the basics and can retain what you’ve learned in Vasudevan, feel free to go to Harper for the extra depth. But remember, don’t bombard yourself with extra info you won’t remember just yet. Prioritize what’s relevant to your exams. Passing is the main goal in first year MBBS.

Pathology: Robbins—When You’re Ready

Pathology—oh boy, Robbins. It’s the holy grail for pathology, and once you’re in second year and you feel a little more confident, it will be your best friend. Like any other subject, I’d recommend starting with video lectures and maybe pathoma notes for foundational knowledge. Robbins should come later, when you’ve got your basics and you’re ready to dig deeper into disease mechanisms.

Trust me, Robbins will be fun once you get there. It’s so well-written that you can literally read parts of it like a novel. The second book of Robbins can be a little bulky but it is worth getting through. Every senior says it, I will say it too: Robbins is the one standard book that you don’t wanna miss.

Pharmacology: Stick to Basics, Avoid the Details (For Now)

One word answer: NO. Pharmacology is incredibly overwhelming. To put it very bluntly, you do not need the dosage and details about every drug when you can’t even name 5 antiepileptics. 

It takes the entire second year to be able to name all drugs without second guessing. So here’s the deal: DO NOT ever start with the foreign books like Katzung when you’re still figuring out the basics. Most of us cannot even get through KDT in second year.

You don’t need to know the nitty-gritty of every drug at the start. Build your foundation first, and once you feel comfortable and have a bit more time in the later years, you can explore foreign books for more advanced study. 

Microbiology: Don’t Overcomplicate It, Stick to What You Need

Microbiology is often one of those subjects that gets overlooked in the midst of the other heavyweights like pathology and pharmacology. To be honest, I’m not even sure which “standard” book is considered the go-to for microbiology. Not because microbiology is challenging but because pathology and pharmacology often demand more attention, leaving you with little time for microbiology.

If you’re confident with your grip on the basics of the other subjects and have some extra time to spare, then by all means, switch to the standard microbiology book for that extra depth. 

But, if your schedule is already packed, it’s better to stick to Sastry and focus on mastering the basics. Microbiology is important, but it’s not worth burning yourself out over.

FMT (Forensic Medicine): Bardale Over Reddy

While Reddy’s book is definitely readable and has its merits, I honestly think Bardale gets the job done more efficiently. Bardale gives you just the right amount of information without overwhelming you, and importantly, it leaves you with time and mental space to focus on clinical subjects later on. 

Sure, you can read through certain sections of Reddy if you’re curious, but it’s not absolutely necessary since you’ll likely get most of what you need from Bardale.

PSM (Preventive and Social Medicine): Park’s—Use It Wisely

Park’s PSM is solid and well-written, but being extremely honest, it’s not a must-read. I would definitely recommend going through the infectious diseases section as it is extremely well written. You can also go through some others that pique your interest. But don’t feel like you have to tackle the entire book just to pass PSM. 

Focus your energy on building a strong foundation for your final year, because that’s where the actual challenge lies. Trust me, you don’t need to make it a rule to go through all of Park’s PSM.

Conclusion: Balance is Everything

At the end of the day, it’s all about finding the right balance. While foreign books can give you a deeper understanding and make you a master of your subject, they can also overwhelm you, especially in the first couple of years. 

If you’re particularly passionate about a subject or feel that the standard books will help you gain a deeper understanding, by all means, go through them. But, other than that Indian authors will keep things simple and more aligned with what you need to know for exams.

Don’t feel pressured to read everything. Prioritize, be smart about your time, and only dive into foreign books when you feel ready. 

It’s not about reading every single textbook—it’s about reading the right ones at the right time to give yourself the best chance to succeed in MBBS.