The DOs: Osteopathic Medicine in America (ISBN 0801878349)

A history of America's best-kept secret:
With a limited understanding of osteopathic medicine's roots, I set on a crash course to find an osteopathic medical history book similar to what a Kenneth Ludmerer's "Time to Heal" did for the history of medicine itself. And with Norman Gevitz's book, I was surely not disappointed. One would think that as a book recommended by the AOA and written by a osteopathic medical school professor, the book would be slanted. However, Gevitz does a great job at maintaining neutrality as a historian while demonstrating a certain degree of candidness, particularly about M.D./D.O. relations and the future of osteopathic medicine. Despite my ecstasy for this book, I do feel that there are certain portions of this book that can be further elaborated (reasoning behind the four-star rating). For example, I would like it if more material was included about osteopathic medicine between 1960 and today. Specifically, Gevitz seems to gloss over the political and social reverberations behind Henry Kissinger's monumental decision to admit D.O.s in the military as equals to M.D.s. Nevertheless, I thought the book was very well written and has definitely sparked an interest into one of this nation's best-kept secrets.

An Understanding of the Progress of Medicine in the U.S.:
This book paints a picture on the birth and growth of osteopathic medicine in the United States. It illustrates the successes, disappointments, and the many trials that osteopathic medicine has endured since its inception. Additionally, it gives the reader an insight into the influence of the American Medical Association and M.D.'s in general. I think that this is a must read for future M.D.'s and D.O.'s alike because it provides a tremendously well written description of these physicians.

if you are considering being a DO, buy this book:
best information. excellent prep for writing application essays or interviews. gives a good history. great for figuring out how to describe DOs to friends/family.

Exceptionally indepth view of the history of osteopathic medicine:
I read this book within a week...I never read books that fast. Gevitz's writing style is highly accessible. There were a few chapters or sections where I started to glaze over only because the author explores the minute details of legislative and organizational changes within the American Osteopathic Association, the American Medical Association and other organizations that probably could've been summarized. But this doesn't really detract much from the overall strength and clarity that this book offers; along with an objective look at the history of osteopathic medicine.

Great historical overview:
Simply should be on every medical student's (osteopathic and allopathic) book shelf. Any osteopathic medical student or physician would be remiss if they did not read this book.