How to Answer: What books have you recently read?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Psychiatrist job interview.
15. What books have you recently read?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
This question is asked to gain insight into your intellectual interests and critical thinking ability. Reading is an integral part of ongoing education and professional development, and it shows that you are proactive in expanding your knowledge and staying up-to-date with current trends. Additionally, discussing the content of the books you have read can give the interviewer a better understanding of your values, beliefs, and worldview, which can be important in a field like psychiatry, where empathy and understanding are critical components of patient care. Discuss the most recent books you have read and what you learned from them.
Written by Krista Wenz on August 24th, 2023
Entry Level Example
"Ever since I was young, I have been fascinated by mystery books and have read authors like Agatha Christie and Charlaine Harris, to name a few. Over a vacation a few weeks back, I read the entire Harris trilogy 'Midnight, Texas.' To keep my brain sane outside of work, I find that reading personally engaging books is a great therapy for myself. However, I also enjoy reading work-related books in the mix to learn more about the human mind. The last psychiatry book I read was 'An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness by Kay Redfield Jamison. It was an intriguing personal memoir of a manic depressive after the onset of her illness during her teenage years. It was incredible to learn what therapies worked for her the best and the ones that didn't."
Written by Krista Wenz on August 24th, 2023
Answer Example
"The last book I read was 'The Body Keeps the Score' by Bessel van der Kolk. It was an interesting book that delved into the effects of trauma on the body and mind. This book provided valuable insights for any psychiatrist seeking to understand their patients better. Before that, I read 'Unhinged: The Trouble Psychiatry,' which covered various controversial topics in psychiatry. I am always looking for new books to read. Do you have any book recommendations?"
Written by Krista Wenz on August 24th, 2023
Experienced Example
"The most recent books I have read include 'The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness' by Elyn R. Saks, which is a memoir that provides a firsthand account of living with schizophrenia, and 'Surviving Schizophrenia: A Family Manual' by E. Fuller Torrey, which is a comprehensive guide for families and individuals dealing with schizophrenia. These books provided valuable information I can use in my practice. When I want a break from my work and want to read for pleasure, I enjoy reading true-crime novels."
Written by Krista Wenz on August 24th, 2023
Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback
Anonymous Answer
I am also interested in more systemic family therapy. I've recently read the adolescent in family therapy by Mincui, the genogram workbook by McGoldrick. I am reading the child in family therapy by Condrick lee."
Rachelle's Feedback