Instead of working on a medical student lecture on neuroleptic malignant syndrome (to contrast it with serotonin syndrome, a lecture I dutifully completed yesterday), I futzed with LibraryThing (now also located under “Trifles” in the sidebar).

And, now, instead of directing my energies on the above lecture, I am now writing about my procrastination.

My LibraryThing catalog does not include all the books I have ever read, as I frankly cannot recall all the books I have ever set my eyes upon. I am no longer the ravenous reader I once was; I fondly remember many summers wandering the aisles of the public library, running my fingertips along the worn spines of the books neatly arranged on the steel shelves. I consumed a lot of fiction (much to the chagrin of my father), though I also read many books about biology. I distinctly remember reading a book that, amongst other things, shared the amazing tale of the dung beetle and its talents in rolling balls of fecal matter around. It really was pretty amazing.

LibraryThing includes a box for comments about books. For some of the books I have read recently, I included how and why I encountered them. In addition to the pleasure that comes with organizing things, I indulged in the warm and fuzzy memories of the circumstances that led me to these books. There is usually a story behind the story, yes?

For example, the medical student (who is now a resident herself) I mentored when I was an intern loaned me her copy of Palahniuk’s Choke at the end of her rotation. Tucked within the pages of the book was a small card that featured a black-and-white photograph of a rose. Inside, she penned a few kind lines about our relationship. It was nice. I blushed.

And now, whenever I see that book, I think fondly of her.

Jane Eyre was undoubtedly my favorite book in high school (though, these days, I find it a bit too mushy—I now find greater delight in the more restrained and witty Pride and Prejudice). I remember curling up with the novel on the aged sofa at home, eagerly turning the pages while engrossed in the covert drama unfolding between Mr. Rochester and Jane Eyre. How my heart panged for Jane who, though smitten with Mr. Rochester, tried to stifle her affections for him! Jane Eyre was, for me, a wonderful, literary soap opera.

I included books I have read/am currently reading for work on the list and even a few of them have special stories behind them. I purchased a copy of Shawn Shea’s Psychiatric Interviewing at the suggestion of an attending who I greatly admire. Not only is she intelligent and actually more empathic towards patients than people may realize, but she is also highly fashionable. Many of us who have worked with her readily admit that we dressed up “more” while on service with her. Otherwise, we’d look slovenly, even though we actually weren’t “disheveled”.

After starting the text, I had praised Shea’s text on this here blog… and, to my surprise, Dr. Shea himself sent me a note thanking me for publicly praising his book. That, too, was nice.

I just finished reading Freakonomics (right on the heels of The Tipping Point—I need a break from that genre) and would like to start another non-medical book, though I ought to dedicate my efforts on books related to work—there’s so much to learn and so little time.

But enough about stuffy books. If you’d like YouTube to suck away precious minutes of your life, watch Graham’s Clerkship Video Workout Guide. It’s more amusing if you’ve ever been a medical student, but entertaining nonetheless. And, if for nothing else, Graham is nice to look at. (Hi Graham!)