USMLE Step 1 Recall: Buzzwords for the Boards

This book isn't so bad. It is true that the NBME is moving away from using buzzwords in their questions, but many of the questions in this book are useful to remind you of important facts. For example, the first question in the biochemistry section is "What is the rate limiting step in glycolysis?" Answer "PFK-1". If you're the type of person who likes to study by answering questions (which I do) this book will save you time. I normally make up my own questions as I go along but this book does it for me. And not all keywords are bad -- it's difficult to describe verbally what Howell-Jolly bodies in a manner that specifically hints at asplenia -- it's just plain easier to use the eponym. With those considerations in mind, I would recommend this book, not as a primary source for study, but a good way to form associations with material you've just studied and to remember important, frequently tested facts.

This book helps you recall the important info you forget from semester to semester. I use it daily to refresh my memory. The easy to read format lets me breeze through each subject. I would definitely recommend this book.

I borrowed a copy of this book from a friend and liked it so much I bought my own. It's not for a comprehensive review but it is great for emphasizing key points -- the same ones that seem to come up again and again in all the review books, plus a few extra. The quiz-yourself format lets you go as quickly or as slowly as you need to. And it's great to pick up when you have a few minutes to study but don't have enough time to get into a full study session.

This book is great for testing your retention after reading subject specific review books. After taking Step 1, I went back over this book and found many similar questions. Repetition is the key to learning all of those obscure facts. This book is very helpful when used in conjunction with other review texts.