🎯 Where Should I Start?
ⓘ About Samuel Shem
Samuel Shem is the pseudonym of Stephen Joseph Bergman, the American psychiatrist turned bestselling author. Shem is best known for his novel “House of God,” which has become a must-read for medical students the world over. In addition to “House of God, “his other novels such as “Mount Misery” and “Man’s 4th Best Hospital” are fiction but almost realistic depictions of how doctors are trained in their residency. In 1966, Shem graduated from Balliol College, Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, having learned under notable cardiac physiologist Denis Noble FRS that would later go on to chair the Oxford Cardiac Electrophysiology Group. He then graduated from Harvard Medical School and Harvard College.
All Book Series by Samuel Shem
At the Heart of the Universe
Latest in the series · book 4 of 4 · published 2015
? Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Samuel Shem?
Samuel Shem is the pseudonym of Stephen Joseph Bergman, the American psychiatrist turned bestselling author. Shem is best known for his novel “House of God,” which has become a must-read for medical students the world over. In addition to “House of God, “his other novels such as “Mount Misery” and “Man's 4th Best Hospital” are fiction but almost realistic depictions of how doctors are trained in their residency.
Which Samuel Shem series should I start with?
The best place to start is the House of God series, the earliest of Samuel Shem's multi-book series: it opens with The House of God (1978) and runs to 3 books across 1978–2023, ending with Our Hospital (2023).
How many books has Samuel Shem written?
Samuel Shem has 10 books catalogued in this guide, published between 1978 and 2023. 3 of them belong to 1 named series — the largest being the House of God series with 3 books — and 7 are standalone titles, collections or anthologies.
In what order should Samuel Shem's series be read?
Read each series in publication order — the numbered entries in each series follow the year each book first appeared. Samuel Shem's series do not depend on one another, so they can be started in any order; by start date they are House of God (1978–2023, 3 books).
How are Samuel Shem's books organised into series?
This guide splits Samuel Shem's 10 books into 1 named series and 7 titles that stand alone or appear only in collections: House of God (3 books, 1978–2023).