Over the last couple of years I’ve been putting together a small waiting room library of books for my patients to read. I thought of the idea after visiting a restaurant where they had left cookery books lying around for patrons to look at while waiting for their food.
The challenge was choosing suitable reading material, beyond that of our usual selection of magazines, newspapers and disease specific information pamphlets. I wasn’t convinced that making gory, illustrated medical textbooks available to those waiting would be conducive to relaxation either. Although I sometimes run behind a little, things are never so bad that a patient might complete a Russian novel there’s probably time, to read a couple of poems, browse a few cartoons or even read a short story.
As a result, I started to put this little collection together and it has been a hit with my patients. There’s a couple of books of poetry for strange times, a book of photographs of bad hairstyles (not sure why a 1970′s me wasn’t included), a book including important medical facts such as ‘why men have nipples’, a collection of essays on famous hypochondriacs (which goes down better than you might expect), a hilarious book of New Yorker medical cartoons and a book on meditation (for those waiting more than 40 minutes).
As some of my patients will be coming back to see me for many years to come, I’d like to try and keep the selection fresh.
What would you like to see included?
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MYBE some gardening and pet books, they would appeal to me, or how about a fish tank,
Your selection looks interesting. I always read the jokes in Readers Digest which you find in lots of waiting rooms here.
If you had this book I would read it. http://www.amazon.com/Who-Shot-Rock-Roll-Photographic/dp/0307270165 Who Shot Rock and Roll: A Photographic History, 1955-Present
I’ve never seen it but would like to, though as you are in Ireland I may have to get my own copy. It would be interesting if you had a pop up book like The Fold-Out Book of the Human Body: Classic 1906 Edition or Gaudi Pop-Ups
I wonder what people will suggest
Thanks Annette.
How about the books produced by the guys behind the Listverse website? Awesome site with 3-5 new Top Ten lists per day. They have books also, easy to read a few quickly, dip in and dip out of.
I immediately thought of a gem that I recently was looking through again and it always makes me laugh. I brought it to give as a present but couldn’t let it leave the house in the end.It might be ideal as it’s small and only needs to be dipped in to.
‘Cartoons to cheer up a Grumpy Old Git’ by The Odd Squad ISBN 978-1-84161-360-4
It does come with a warning though….reading this may cause side effects – including the loss of bladder control and the occasional follow-through!
Excellent suggestion Kirsty. Its out of stock in Galway but I will track it down. THanks for the warnings too…
Nice to see someone making the effort, rather than the usual mags. How about “1,227 QI Facts To Blow Your Socks Off” by the QI Elves, that’ll entertain for at least half an hour.
Managed to get a copy of this on your suggestion Gaby. Its excellent – thanks!
I have just thought of another one…..’The Awkward Family Photos’ by Mike Bender and Doug Chernack. For a taster have a look at their website http://www.AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com
What an excellent idea! So tired of ‘celebrity” magazines in every waiting room. Luckily I always have my Kindle with me but think I will suggest this to both my GP and rheumy. Well done!
Honestly I’d prefer magazines, they’ve got short articles and you never know how long you’re going to have to wait. Plus you can’t really get stuck in to a subject can you? Or else you’d have to keep inventing illnesses so you can come back and finish it. Plus sitting in the waiting room it’s nice to dream about Country Living and Period Homes!!
Thanks Norma. We have lots of up to date magazines too. This was really to supplement the reading material for people who wanted to read something else.
Ronan, great idea this. I wonder could you email me this list when convenient. Looks like a very interesting list indeed. I’d like to develop a similar library in my practice.
Thanks
Rory
Leave it with me Rory. I will put up a page with all of the titles and links to Amazon so at least people can get the ISBN numbers if they are interested.
Ronan, great idea, but i would keep wanting to take them home to finish. For great feel good cartoons ‘Calvin and Hobbs’ series is brill
Very thoughtful of you. Patients get tires of webMD and Golf Digest. My oncologist’s office has a bookshelf in the infusion room where people can borrow books. Patients also donate books; sometimes even brand new hardbacks. It’s all on the honor system, but I don’t think anybody cares whether the books are returned.