The Ultimate Book Guide to Clear Exams and Aim for Distinction

Here’s a detailed subject-wise recommendation of books that will not just help you clear your exams but also help you aim for distinction in MBBS. Stick to one main book per subject, add a short review/notes source, and revise smart.

1. Anatomy

BD Chaurasia’s Human Anatomy (3 Volumes) – Gold standard for MBBS; dissection + applied.
Vishram Singh (3 Volumes) – Cleaner diagrams; easier language; great for revision.
Inderbir Singh’s Human Embryology – Core embryology in exam depth.
Langman’s Medical Embryology – Deeper conceptual; optional.
Gray’s Anatomy (Student Edition) – Reference only.
Ravi’s Atlas of Human Anatomy – Useful in dissection hall.

2. Physiology

Guyton & Hall – Best conceptual text; deep understanding.
Ganong – Higher exam/PG MCQ depth.
Sembulingam – Concise; exam friendly.
AK Jain – Compact; good for university prep.

3. Biochemistry

Vasudevan Textbook of Biochemistry – Exam + reference; structured.
Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry – Concept heavy; visuals help.
Satyanarayana – Easy language.
Lippincott’s Illustrated Reviews – Fast visual recall.

Although Vasudevan is great for reference and exams, we strongly suggest Dr. Jambhulkar Sir’s Biochemistry Notes. Almost every MBBS student touches these in final prep. Start using them alongside Vasudevan for score boost.

4. Pathology

Robbins Basic Pathology – Gold reference; concepts + mechanisms.
Harsh Mohan – Indian standard; readable; good for exams.
Devesh Mishra Review Pathology – Quick recap & MCQ utility.

For exam-focused answer writing, we highly suggest Dr. Priyanka Sachdeva Ma’am’s Pathology Proff Buster. Helps structure long answers and score better in profs.

5. Pharmacology

KD Tripathi – MBBS must-have; exam + mechanism balance.
Shanbagh’s Pharmacology – Concise; exam oriented; great for revision.
Goodman & Gilman – Detailed reference; selective reading.
Rang & Dale – Conceptual; systems approach.
Gobind Rai Garg Review Pharmacology – Fast revision; useful for PG entrance too.

Along with Shanbagh, Dr. Gobind Rai Sir’s notes are clutch in last-minute prep—high-yield drug tables + mnemonics.

6. Microbiology

Ananthanarayan & Paniker – Standard MBBS microbiology text.
Apurba Sastry – Shorter; exam friendly; many students prefer.
Bailey & Scott – Diagnostic + lab approach (reference).

7. Forensic Medicine

Reddy’s Essentials of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology – Core MBBS FMT book.
Parikh’s Medical Jurisprudence – Legal depth; selective reading.

8. Community Medicine (PSM)

Park’s Preventive & Social Medicine – The Bible; must read selected chapters fully.
Suryakantha – Slimmer; quick revision help.

Dr. P.V.D. Shetty’s Community Medicine book is highly recommended for exam prep—simplified tables + scoring points.

9. Medicine

Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine – Deep reference; not full-read for MBBS.
API Textbook of Medicine – Indian pattern; exam aligned.
Davidson’s Medicine – Easier conceptual read.

Apart from standard texts, Baloor is an excellent concise exam-oriented choice—saves time in long term postings.

10. Surgery

Bailey & Love’s Short Practice of Surgery – Core reading; concepts + cases.
S Das Manual of Clinical Surgery – Bedside exam skills; viva saver.
SRB’s Manual of Surgery – Quick revision; Indian exam vibe.

11. Pediatrics

O.P. Ghai Essentials of Pediatrics – Standard MBBS text.
Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics – Detailed reference; selective topics.

12. Obstetrics & Gynecology (OBGYN)

DC Dutta Obstetrics – MBBS standard.
Shaw Gynecology – Comprehensive; exam helpful.
Williams Obstetrics – PG level; selective reading.

13. ENT

PL Dhingra ENT – Standard student text.
Dhingra Review ENT – Rapid revision + viva.

14. Ophthalmology

Parson’s Diseases of the Eye – Reference depth.
AK Khurana Ophthalmology – Student friendly; exam oriented.

Tips

Stick to ONE main book + ONE short review per subject.
Use class/mentor notes close to exams for rapid scoring revision.
Underline scoring lines while first reading—saves time later.
Past questions + prof-oriented guides (like Proff Buster) push marks fast.
Group discussions before profs help fill gaps quickly.