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Summary: The best.... yet.
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Basically the best Physiology book out there. Great graphics and explanations, all the material you'll ever need for the Step 1 and more. Get it with your eyes closed and don't even bother with anything else for this subject.
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Summary: You NEED this book. REALLY.
Review: Dr. Costanzo has spent her career perfecting the art of teaching medical students and preparing them for Step 1 of the boards. She taught me in physiology as a first year med student and organizes the board review classes our medical school holds for the second year students. She knows exactly which type of questions get asked year after year on Step 1 and to what detail you need to know the information. She asks students for feedback on how to improve her texts and has worked hard to make the info as clear as possible. The med students here trust Dr. Costanzo with their futures--they take her advice for the boards as gospel, so when she says "this is what you need to know," they believe.
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Summary: My new best friend!!
Review: I give this book an enthusiastic two thumbs up!! If you're in medical school or studying physiology, I highly recommend it. I purchased it a few weeks before my renal/cardio/resp final and it proved to be a lifesaver in my studying for the exam. Although it cannot be used by itself as a textbook, it is perfect for its intended use as a review book. It complemented my lecture notes well and provided excellent practice tests at the end of each section. Although other reviewers seem to find fault in the acid/base chapter, I found that to be the most useful. When I pulled the book out during a small group discussion on renal physiology, my classmates were awed by the amount of information contained in such a compact package. Costanzo lays out all the information you need to know without the in-depth description that makes textbooks so unreadable. I have enjoyed using this book to study for my exams, and I look forward to using it to study for the USMLE.
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Summary: an excellent review for the USMLE step 1
Review: I was so happy with this book that I didn't even bother looking for any of its competitors. It can be studied in its entirety within about three days, and it covers everything necessary, and in just enough depth, to understand and answer physiology-based questions on the USMLE step 1, without going into extraneous detail. The charts and diagrams are excellent and look very similar to those that appear on the actual exam.The emphasis in this book is on concepts, not equations, which is also mirrored in the USMLE exam. (I didn't have to calculate any equations during my USMLE step 1 exam three days ago: no Fick equation, no water balance, no mean arterial pressure, etc...) The multiple choice questions at the end of each section and the comprehensive exam at the end of the book are also excellent and roughly reflect the content and style of the USMLE step 1 exam.
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Summary: Best for USMLE study
Review: Of all the physiology review texts out there, this one is by far the best. Set up in outline form, it covers what you will see on the board exams. Dr. Costanzo knows how to convey difficult concepts in simple terms; in particular her acid/base and pulmonary discussions are very good. The book also has many useful diagrams, which tend to show up in very similar format to the USMLE exam.
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Summary: Dear Dr Costanzo
Review: Thank you for the perfect review book. I got Physiology: BRS this summer while cramming for the USMLE Step 1, read it cover to cover once, and went back to it when ever necessary. After that I felt that Physiology was the least of my problems for Step 1! Easy to follow, easy to memorize. My only regret is not having got this book while in Physiology class.
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Summary: A very nice PHYSIOLOGY REVIEW book
Review: That's one of the best review books I've ever read. It's very conscise and it contains pretty much everything you might need for the USMLE. The questions at the end of each chapter are NOT asking plain facts, but require quite some thinking, which in my opinion greatly helps one "consolidate" what he has learned. In addition its size lets you briefly review facts just before your exam. If you are studying physiology for the first time, or if you wish to have a more "in-depth" textbook, you might consider obtaining another great book -- "STARS Physiology" written by dr Costanzo.
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Summary: Great USMLE physiology review
Review: The book is excellent because it presents physiology in a very straight forward and uncomplicated manner.The contents and emphasis is more than enough for USMLE though First Aid says that it is slightly weak in respiratory and Acid Base physiology .I found both to be adequate and Renal physiology particularly enjoyable.The book assumes that you have reasonably good basics to follow its outline format and the books relative lack of explanations. But if you had once learned and enjoyed physiology you will enjoy this book a lot and go through it fast.It may not be useful with the course work as different institutions present material in a different way and a review book without much explanation and a possible different approach may be confusing. Perhaps reading STARS Physiology book( I havent checked it) with the course and then using the review for the USMLE could be helpful.Best of luck with the exams.
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Summary: THE CONCISE PHYSIOLOGY CRACKER
Review: The only complaint that I have heard from the students who read this book is that it is not very detailed. But that is no offence. There was no omission. The fact is that, (like all other authors involved in 'Board Review Series'), the author of this book designed a concise but versatile physiology handbook. A summary! A cracker of a summary!!
This text is outstanding for its revisional value. It simplified every aspect of general physiology, (including pathophysiology). From systems to organs, and down to tissues, the well-edited sections of this book are very easy to comprehend. Its illustrations were nicely done. This book handled Human Physiology in a way that most students would appreciate. It is an asset!
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Summary: A must have resource for all medical students!
Review: This book is an excellent resource for persons both entering their first year course in Medical Physiology and for those second-year medical students preparing for USMLE Step 1. A concise, yet detailed text which emphasizes quite clearly the basic principles of Physiology. I am lucky to have had the author, Dr. Costanzo, as a professor and my current advisor. However, having her review text is the next big thing! Detailed pictures and powerful tables and diagrams handsomely supplement her student-oriented presentation style of information. A particularly well written section concerning Renal Acid-Base Physiology, which is Dr. Costanzo's specialty. Any medical student or person taking a Physiology course will not lose a dime by purchasing this book... It is well worth it, believe me! :)
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