The Oxbridge Medicine Reading List

Planning to study Medicine at Oxford or Cambridge? Get ahead with these key books that stay on reading lists year after year.

So you’ve decided that medicine is the route for you, whether it was the pull of human biology, the challenge of solving problems under pressure, or (we won't judge) binge-watching 24 Hours in A&E. Now it’s time to dive into the books that Oxford and Cambridge tutors love to see on personal statements.

Reading for medicine isn’t like reading a novel. But if it were, it would be one where half the pages are in Latin and the plot is constantly interrupted by footnotes. That's why we've tried to include some more out-of-the-box, engaging texts that are genuinely thought provoking, because no one wants to feel like they're reading a textbook (though we're afraid that won't be entirely avoidable at Oxford or Cambridge).

And remember: your most sustainable reading is at your local library...!

The key texts for aspiring medics

Let’s start with the staples: books that crop up time and time again on Oxbridge Medicine reading lists.

1. This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay A painfully funny (and sometimes just painful) insight into life as a junior doctor in the NHS. While light-hearted in tone, it doesn’t shy away from the emotional and moral challenges that come with the job. Tutors love it because it humanises medicine.

2. Do No Harm by Henry Marsh A compelling memoir from a neurosurgeon. Marsh’s honest reflections on surgery, success, and human error make this a must-read. It shows that you're thinking beyond textbooks and about what kind of doctor you want to be.

3. The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks A classic in medical literature, and occasionally can be found on Psychology reading lists, too. This collection of case studies brings neurology to life through fascinating and often poignant narratives. Expect to be amazed, a little confused, and sometimes moved.

4. Being Mortal by Atul Gawande Gawande’s thoughtful look at ageing, mortality, and the limitations of medicine is essential for any future medic. It demonstrates empathy and a philosophical understanding of what medicine can and can’t do.

Finding your interests

Once you’ve read the core texts, you’ll start to get a sense of which areas of medicine fascinate you most.

Medical Ethics and Philosophy

If the moral complexities of medicine intrigue you, start with:

• Medical Ethics: A Very Short Introduction by Tony Hope – concise but powerful.

• The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande – about how simple systems can transform patient safety.

  
  

Neuroscience and Psychology

• Phantoms in the Brain by V.S. Ramachandran – covers brain damage, phantom limbs, and the limits of perception.

• The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge – popular science writing about neuroplasticity at its best.

Global/Public Health

• Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder – the story of Paul Farmer, a doctor and anthropologist who revolutionised global health.

• Spillover by David Quammen – all about how animal diseases cross into humans (hello, zoonosis).

Other ways of soaking up knowledge (that aren’t reading)

Because if we're being honest, if you loved reading, you would've picked English Literature.

Top tip: these all make great super-curriculars, and can really boost your personal statement if you're in Year 12 rather than in Year 13!

Podcasts

• BMJ Podcast – up-to-date discussions on medical developments.

• The Undifferentiated Medical Student – especially good if you’re not sure which area of medicine excites you most.

• Sawbones – a light-hearted medical history podcast (perfect for train journeys or background listening).

YouTube & TED Talks

• Surgeon Reacts (Dr. Hope’s Sick Notes) – educational and fun.

• TED: A Doctor's Touch by Abraham Verghese – on the physical and emotional importance of touch in medicine.

• How We Can Do Better in Healthcare by Atul Gawande – a brilliant overview of systemic flaws and how we can fix them.

Finally, if you want to get ahead of your Oxbridge Medicine reading…

Reading broadly – across ethics, science, memoir, and fiction – shows admissions tutors that you’re curious, thoughtful, and ready for the challenges of a medicine degree. But to really stand out, you need to go beyond the books.

That’s where Avalon Education comes in. We’ve got you covered with Oxford and Cambridge medical graduates as tutors who can take you through the whole process – people who can help you precisely because they've been in your shoes before, and successfully smashed Oxford and Cambridge Medicine.

Get in touch, and we'd love to help!