{"id":385,"date":"2025-10-31T06:00:08","date_gmt":"2025-10-31T13:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/?p=385"},"modified":"2022-04-26T06:40:49","modified_gmt":"2022-04-26T13:40:49","slug":"best-mcat-prep-books","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/best-mcat-prep-books\/","title":{"rendered":"Best MCAT Books of 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/image-mcat-header-bestBooks.jpg\" alt=\"books arranged in circle with spine perpendicular to table representing best MCAT books\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1813\" srcset=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/image-mcat-header-bestBooks.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/image-mcat-header-bestBooks-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/image-mcat-header-bestBooks-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/image-mcat-header-bestBooks-768x384.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>There are tons of MCAT study books out there&mdash;and I mean that literally. Amazon alone lists nearly 600 MCAT books! But when you&#8217;re prepping for the Medical College Admission Test, not just any book will do&mdash;and some can actively hurt your score. To avoid that, let&#8217;s go over: what are the best MCAT prep books? Magoosh&#8217;s experts are here to break it down for you!<\/p>\n<p><em>This post was updated in 2025 with links to the new editions of these books, where available.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"contents\"><\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"color: #4D2079\">Table of Contents<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#best\">Best MCAT Prep Books for Each Subject<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#bio\"><strong>Best for General Biology<\/strong>:\u00a0MCAT Practice Tests: Chemical &#038; Physical + Biological &#038; Biochemical Foundations<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#biochem\"><strong>Best for Biochemistry<\/strong>:\u00a0Biology, Part II: Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#physics\"><strong>Best for Physics<\/strong>:\u00a0The MCAT Physics Book<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#BIchem\"><strong>Best for Beginner\/Intermediate General Chemistry<\/strong>:\u00a0General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#IAchem\"><strong>Best for Intermediate\/Advanced Chemistry<\/strong>:\u00a01001 Questions in MCAT Chemistry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#orgo\"><strong>Best for Organic Chemistry<\/strong>:\u00a0MCAT Organic Chemistry Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#psych\"><strong>Best for Psychology<\/strong>:\u00a0MCAT Flashcards<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#soc\"><strong>Best for Sociology<\/strong>:\u00a0MCAT Psychology &#038; Sociology: Psychological, Social &#038; Biological Foundations of Behavior<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#cars\"><strong>Best for CARS<\/strong>:\u00a0Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills, Volumes 1 and 2<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faq\">Best MCAT Study Books FAQ<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#final\">A Final Word<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a id=\"best\"><\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"color: #4D2079\">Best MCAT Prep Books for Each Subject<\/h2>\n<p><a id=\"bio\"><\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Best for General Biology:<\/strong> <em>MCAT Practice Tests: Chemical &#038; Physical + Biological &#038; Biochemical Foundations<\/em><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Sterling-Test-Prep-Practice-Tests\/dp\/1947556460\/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=sterling+biological+mcat+practice+tests&#038;qid=1576782757&#038;sr=8-3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2016\/12\/Screen-Shot-2016-12-15-at-11.31.22-AM-236x300.png\" alt=\"Magoosh MCAT prep books - MCAT practice tests\" width=\"236\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-860\" srcset=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2016\/12\/Screen-Shot-2016-12-15-at-11.31.22-AM-236x300.png 236w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2016\/12\/Screen-Shot-2016-12-15-at-11.31.22-AM.png 264w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 236px) 100vw, 236px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<em>MCAT Practice Tests: Chemical &#038; Physical + Biological &#038; Biochemical Foundations<\/em> is the best choice for General Biology. Published by Sterling, this 2016 book gets 8 out of 10 overall.<\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/a.co\/d\/3WLBRDK\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Click here for the most recent edition of this book.<\/a><\/em><br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table id=\"tablepress-32\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-32 tablepress-responsive\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n<th class=\"column-1\"><strong style=\"color:#2e8540\">Pros<\/strong><\/th>\n<th class=\"column-2\"><strong style=\"color:#cd2026\">Cons<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"star\">Excellent general biology practice<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"warning\">Lack of passage problems<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"star\">Some integration of biochemistry<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"warning\">Not much chemistry incorporated<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"star\">Detailed explanations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"warning\">Relatively easy problems<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"star\">Good for reviewing all substantive areas of general biology<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"warning\">Insufficient biochemistry practice<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!-- #tablepress-32 from cache --><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#contents\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/100x27-Back-to-Top-button.png\" alt=\"Back to top button - Magoosh\" width=\"100\" height=\"27\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1778\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"biochem\"><\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Best for Biochemistry:<\/strong> <em>Biology, Part II: Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology<\/em><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.berkeleyreview.com\/home-study\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2016\/12\/Screen-Shot-2016-12-16-at-8.47.04-AM-300x98.png\" alt=\"Magoosh MCAT prep books - The Berkeley Review  - Biology part II\" width=\"300\" height=\"98\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-870\" srcset=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2016\/12\/Screen-Shot-2016-12-16-at-8.47.04-AM-300x98.png 300w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2016\/12\/Screen-Shot-2016-12-16-at-8.47.04-AM-768x250.png 768w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2016\/12\/Screen-Shot-2016-12-16-at-8.47.04-AM.png 990w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<em>Biology, Part II: Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology<\/em> is the best choice for Biochemistry. Published by The Berkeley Review, this 2015 book gets 9.5 out of 10 overall.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table id=\"tablepress-33\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-33 tablepress-responsive\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n<th class=\"column-1\"><strong style=\"color:#2e8540\">Pros<\/strong><\/th>\n<th class=\"column-2\"><strong style=\"color:#cd2026\">Cons<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"star\">Precise, expert-written material with distinguished presentation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"warning\">Expensive at $69 (comes with Biology Part I: Physiology)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"star\">75 practice passages, extra questions, 2 full diagnostics<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"warning\">Difficult material; if you struggle with biochemistry, begin with Kaplan&#8217;s book<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!-- #tablepress-33 from cache --><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#contents\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/100x27-Back-to-Top-button.png\" alt=\"Back to top button - Magoosh\" width=\"100\" height=\"27\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1778\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"physics\"><\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Best for Physics:<\/strong> <em>The MCAT Physics Book<\/em><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/MCAT-Physics-Book-Garrett-Biehle\/dp\/1889057339\/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=nova+The+MCAT+Physics+Book&#038;qid=1576782685&#038;sr=8-3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2016\/12\/Screen-Shot-2016-12-15-at-11.08.05-AM-231x300.png\" alt=\"Magoosh MCAT prep books - MCAT Physics Book by Nova\" width=\"231\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-859\" srcset=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2016\/12\/Screen-Shot-2016-12-15-at-11.08.05-AM-231x300.png 231w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2016\/12\/Screen-Shot-2016-12-15-at-11.08.05-AM-23x30.png 23w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2016\/12\/Screen-Shot-2016-12-15-at-11.08.05-AM.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 231px) 100vw, 231px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<em>The MCAT Physics Book<\/em> is the best choice for Physics. Published by Nova, this 2016 book gets 9 out of 10 overall.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table id=\"tablepress-34\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-34 tablepress-responsive\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n<th class=\"column-1\"><strong style=\"color:#2e8540\">Pros<\/strong><\/th>\n<th class=\"column-2\"><strong style=\"color:#cd2026\">Cons<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"star\">Breaks concepts down into manageable chunks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"warning\">Passages are too short and fail to integrate biology and chemistry in a test-like way<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"star\">Well-organized and instructive<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"star\">49 passages and 500 practice problems<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!-- #tablepress-34 from cache --><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#contents\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/100x27-Back-to-Top-button.png\" alt=\"Back to top button - Magoosh\" width=\"100\" height=\"27\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1778\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"BIchem\"><\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Best for Beginner\/Intermediate General Chemistry:<\/strong> <em>General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry<\/em><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Schaums-Outline-General-Biochemistry-Outlines\/dp\/0071611657\/ref=dp_ob_title_bk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2016\/07\/MCAT_chemistry-schaums-228x300.jpg\" alt=\"Magoosh MCAT prep books - Schaum&#039;s Outlines\" width=\"228\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1293\" srcset=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2016\/07\/MCAT_chemistry-schaums-228x300.jpg 228w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2016\/07\/MCAT_chemistry-schaums.jpg 379w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 228px) 100vw, 228px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<em>General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry<\/em> is the best choice for Beginner\/Intermediate Chemistry. Published by Schaum&#8217;s Outlines, this 2009 book gets 8.5 out of 10 overall.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table id=\"tablepress-35\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-35 tablepress-responsive\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n<th class=\"column-1\"><strong style=\"color:#2e8540\">Pros<\/strong><\/th>\n<th class=\"column-2\"><strong style=\"color:#cd2026\">Cons<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"star\">Written for pre-health majors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"warning\">Small print makes this a daunting read<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"star\">Excellent practice problems, with mini-questions in the body of the text<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"warning\">Biochemistry section is rather confusing and outdated, given how much the field has changed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!-- #tablepress-35 from cache --><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#contents\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/100x27-Back-to-Top-button.png\" alt=\"Back to top button - Magoosh\" width=\"100\" height=\"27\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1778\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"IAchem\"><\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Best for Intermediate\/Advanced Chemistry<\/strong>: <em>1001 Questions in MCAT Chemistry<\/em><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Examkrackers-Questions-Chemistry-Jonathan-Orsay\/dp\/B00D9GDEVO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2016\/12\/Screen-Shot-2016-12-15-at-11.54.16-AM-236x300.png\" alt=\"Magoosh MCAT prep books - 1001 questions in MCAT chemistry\" width=\"236\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-862\" srcset=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2016\/12\/Screen-Shot-2016-12-15-at-11.54.16-AM-236x300.png 236w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2016\/12\/Screen-Shot-2016-12-15-at-11.54.16-AM.png 260w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 236px) 100vw, 236px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<em>1001 Questions in MCAT Chemistry<\/em> is the best choice for Intermediate\/Advanced Chemistry. Published by Examkrackers, this 2005 book gets 8 out of 10 overall.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table id=\"tablepress-36\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-36 tablepress-responsive\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n<th class=\"column-1\"><strong style=\"color:#2e8540\">Pros<\/strong><\/th>\n<th class=\"column-2\"><strong style=\"color:#cd2026\">Cons<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"star\">Gratifying and fast-paced<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"warning\">Doesn&#8217;t reflect the current MCAT<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"star\">Provides countless opportunities to quiz yourself<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"warning\">The explanations to problems are incredibly brief<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"star\">Questions are sectioned into 7 general areas<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"warning\">Passages are too short<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"star\">A good source to turn to on days when your attention is dwindling<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"warning\">Emphasizes chemistry\/physics more than chemistry\/biology<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!-- #tablepress-36 from cache --><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#contents\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/100x27-Back-to-Top-button.png\" alt=\"Back to top button - Magoosh\" width=\"100\" height=\"27\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1778\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"orgo\"><\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Best for Organic Chemistry:<\/strong> <em>MCAT Organic Chemistry Review<\/em><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/MCAT-Organic-Chemistry-Review-2020-2021\/dp\/1506248780\/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1L68FSGJWQ4W5&#038;keywords=kaplan+organic+chemistry+mcat&#038;qid=1576783127&#038;s=books&#038;sprefix=kaplan+organic+%2Cstripbooks%2C205&#038;sr=1-3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2018\/09\/MCAT_Kaplan-OChem-2021-231x300.jpg\" alt=\"Magoosh MCAT prep books - Kaplan Organic Chemistry Review\" width=\"231\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1488\" srcset=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2018\/09\/MCAT_Kaplan-OChem-2021-231x300.jpg 231w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2018\/09\/MCAT_Kaplan-OChem-2021.jpg 385w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 231px) 100vw, 231px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<em>MCAT Organic Chemistry Review<\/em> is the best choice for Organic Chemistry. Published by Kaplan, this 2018 book gets 9 out of 10 overall.<\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/a.co\/d\/7qJB0eq\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Click here for the most recent edition of this book.<\/a><\/em><br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table id=\"tablepress-37\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-37 tablepress-responsive\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n<th class=\"column-1\"><strong style=\"color:#2e8540\">Pros<\/strong><\/th>\n<th class=\"column-2\"><strong style=\"color:#cd2026\">Cons<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"star\">Focuses on the <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/mcat-physics-chemistry-topics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">organic chemistry<\/a> you need to know and eclipses the excess<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"warning\">Padded with too much general MCAT info<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"star\">Reader-friendly <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"warning\">Organic chemistry questions are not test-like<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"star\">Plenty of discrete questions with clear explanations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"star\">Includes a full length practice test online!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!-- #tablepress-37 from cache --><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#contents\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/100x27-Back-to-Top-button.png\" alt=\"Back to top button - Magoosh\" width=\"100\" height=\"27\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1778\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"psych\"><\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Best for Psychology:<\/strong> <em>MCAT Flashcards<\/em><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Barrons-MCAT-Flash-Cards-Cutts\/dp\/1438075545\/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=barron%27s+mcat&#038;qid=1576783681&#038;sr=8-3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2018\/09\/MCAT_Barrons-Flash-Cards-300x264.jpg\" alt=\"Magoosh MCAT prep books - Barron&#039;s Flash Cards\" width=\"300\" height=\"264\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1489\" srcset=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2018\/09\/MCAT_Barrons-Flash-Cards-300x264.jpg 300w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2018\/09\/MCAT_Barrons-Flash-Cards.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<em>MCAT Flash Cards<\/em> is the best choice for Psychology. Published by Barron&#8217;s, this 2015 set gets 8 out of 10 overall.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table id=\"tablepress-38\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-38 tablepress-responsive\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n<th class=\"column-1\"><strong style=\"color:#2e8540\">Pros<\/strong><\/th>\n<th class=\"column-2\"><strong style=\"color:#cd2026\">Cons<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"star\">Balances context with vocabulary<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"warning\">Not comprehensive; you may still need additional materials for remaining concepts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"star\">You\u2019ll get 80% of the psych\/soc concepts you need to know through this deck.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!-- #tablepress-38 from cache --><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#contents\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/100x27-Back-to-Top-button.png\" alt=\"Back to top button - Magoosh\" width=\"100\" height=\"27\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1778\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"soc\"><\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Best for Sociology:<\/strong> <em>MCAT Psychology &#038; Sociology: Psychological, Social &#038; Biological Foundations of Behavior<\/em><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Sterling-Test-Prep-Psychology-Sociology\/dp\/194755624X\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2016\/07\/MCAT_sociology-233x300.jpg\" alt=\"Magoosh MCAT prep books - Sterling Test Prep - Mcat psychology and sociology\" width=\"233\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1291\" srcset=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2016\/07\/MCAT_sociology-233x300.jpg 233w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2016\/07\/MCAT_sociology.jpg 387w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 233px) 100vw, 233px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<em>MCAT Psychology &#038; Sociology: Psychological, Social &#038; Biological Foundations of Behavior &#8211; Review<\/em> is the best choice for Sociology. Published by Sterling, this 2018 book gets 8.5 out of 10 overall.<\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/a.co\/d\/6KxyjyK\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Click here for the most recent edition of this book.<\/a><\/em><br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table id=\"tablepress-39\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-39 tablepress-responsive\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n<th class=\"column-1\"><strong style=\"color:#2e8540\">Pros<\/strong><\/th>\n<th class=\"column-2\"><strong style=\"color:#cd2026\">Cons<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"star\">Unique approach to sociology.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"warning\">Good for learning, not for practice. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"star\">Helpful for applying theories to the empirical research found on the MCAT.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"warning\">You\u2019ll need additional sources with research-based passages to see how the material will appear on the exam.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"star\">Links theorists clearly to their theories.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!-- #tablepress-39 from cache --><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#contents\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/100x27-Back-to-Top-button.png\" alt=\"Back to top button - Magoosh\" width=\"100\" height=\"27\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1778\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"cars\"><\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Best for CARS:<\/strong> <em>Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills, Volumes 1 and 2<\/em><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/members.aamc.org\/eweb\/DynamicPage.aspx?Action=Add&amp;ObjectKeyFrom=1A83491A-9853-4C87-86A4-F7D95601C2E2&amp;WebCode=ProdDetailAdd&amp;DoNotSave=yes&amp;ParentObject=CentralizedOrderEntry&amp;ParentDataObject=Invoice%20Detail&amp;ivd_formkey=69202792-63d7-4ba2-bf4e-a0da41270555&amp;ivd_cst_key=4894744d-9c71-4d9b-b605-0eed1dbb983d&amp;ivd_cst_ship_key=4894744d-9c71-4d9b-b605-0eed1dbb983d&amp;ivd_prc_prd_key=53FA6AFB-002F-4C1B-B4BF-8E1E74D472E7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2016\/12\/Screen-Shot-2016-12-15-at-12.21.05-PM-300x116.png\" alt=\"Magoosh MCAT prep books - AAMC MCat review\" width=\"300\" height=\"116\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-867\" srcset=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2016\/12\/Screen-Shot-2016-12-15-at-12.21.05-PM-300x116.png 300w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2016\/12\/Screen-Shot-2016-12-15-at-12.21.05-PM.png 359w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<em>Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills, Volumes 1 and 2. Online<\/em> is the best choice for CARS. Published by the AAMC, this 2016 book gets 10 out of 10 overall.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table id=\"tablepress-40\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-40 tablepress-responsive\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n<th class=\"column-1\"><strong style=\"color:#2e8540\">Pros<\/strong><\/th>\n<th class=\"column-2\"><strong style=\"color:#cd2026\">Cons<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"star\">Direct source for <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/mcat-cars-5-tips-for-doing-well\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">CARS material<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"warning\">May not reflect the new test.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"star\">Passages and questions come from actual MCAT exams <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"warning\">AAMC\u2019s practice passages might be too easy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"star\">Passages are electronic and timed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"star\">Clear explanations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">\n<ul class=\"no_bullet\"><\/p>\n<li class=\"star\">You get experience with the test format as well as the content<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!-- #tablepress-40 from cache --><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#contents\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/100x27-Back-to-Top-button.png\" alt=\"Back to top button - Magoosh\" width=\"100\" height=\"27\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1778\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"faq\"><\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"color: #4D2079\">Best MCAT Study Books FAQ<\/h2>\n<p>Click any of the below FAQs to view the response from our MCAT experts!<\/p>\n<details>\n<summary><strong style=\"color: #005bc2\">What MCAT prep book is the best?<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\nOverall, the best MCAT prep books are Examkrakers and Kaplan\u2019s MCAT complete 7-book subject review. The best resources for you will depend on where you are in your studies. <\/p>\n<p>Examkrackers is best for people who have less than 3 months to study or just need a little boost in some areas. Kaplan is better for people who have the time and desire to read, study, and digest MCAT content at a deeper level.<\/p>\n<p>In both cases, you\u2019ll get a comprehensive view of the subjects you need to know, complete with excellent illustrations.<\/p>\n<p>The main exception to this is if you\u2019re aiming for a top score and are struggling with the Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems. For students in the top 10th percentile who are still coming up short on this section, the best books are The Berkeley Review for advanced prep.<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary><strong style=\"color: #005bc2\">Is Kaplan or Princeton Review MCAT better?<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\nCompared to the Princeton Review MCAT Subject Review, Kaplan\u2019s MCAT materials are far stronger. The reasons center around what we\u2019ve discussed above: you\u2019ll get an in-depth look at the topics you need to know, combined with great illustrations.<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary><strong style=\"color: #005bc2\">How far in advance should you study for the MCAT?<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\nThe short answer is, between <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/3-month-mcat-preparation-plan\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">three months<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/how-to-study-for-the-mcat-your-6-month-study-plan\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">six months<\/a>. The longer answer is a little more complicated! It depends on a variety of factors, including your current scores on diagnostic\/practice tests, your goal scores, how many hours a week you can devote to studying and practice exams, and your admissions deadlines.<\/p>\n<p>Now, can you study for the MCAT in less time? Sure! You can study for the MCAT in a week if you just need a little brush-up on major subject areas. But if attending medical school means a lot to you, it&#8217;s better to take a little longer to review books and prep materials, take full-length practice tests and complete practice questions, and really master the materials before setting foot in the test center for the actual exam.<\/p>\n<p>For a better idea of what different MCAT plans look like, check out <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/mcat-study-schedules\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Magoosh&#8217;s MCAT study schedules<\/a>! <\/details>\n<details>\n<summary><strong style=\"color: #005bc2\">Are MCAT prep courses better than books?<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\nIt really, truly depends on your learning style and your comfort level with the different materials tested on the MCAT.<\/p>\n<p>If you just need to brush up on, say, physical foundations of biological systems, or just need a math refresher or an MCAT general chemistry review, you might be better off spending your time focusing on specialized materials on your own. But if you&#8217;re someone who learns well by hearing concepts explained aloud and asking questions, an MCAT tutor might be the better choice for you.<\/p>\n<p>Think about the type of learner you are. Do you do best when you can study diagrams for a long time on your own? Or do you prefer to skim over illustrations and hear concepts explained verbally? Because the MCAT tests concepts in great depth, it&#8217;ll be important that you allow yourself to encounter them in the way that best fits your learning style.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, it&#8217;s important to realize that one &#8220;complete study package&#8221; is rarely right for every student. The best MCAT study materials will give you an understanding of the test as a whole but also focus on areas that give you trouble. Even when you take a course, for example, you may want to get supplemental test prep books that build on particular concepts.<\/details>\n<p><a href=\"#contents\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/100x27-Back-to-Top-button.png\" alt=\"Back to top button - Magoosh\" width=\"100\" height=\"27\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1778\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"final\"><\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"color: #4D2079\">A Final Word on the Best MCAT Prep Books<\/h2>\n<p>MCAT study guides can be expensive purchases. Beyond that, getting too many of the wrong ones will end up be discouraging. Ideally, you&#8217;ll work with the most recent edition of one or more of the books above, combining it with some form of online or in-person course or tutoring to get familiar with the test as a whole.<\/p>\n<p>In the end, finding the best MCAT prep books relies on a deep knowledge of your own strengths and weaknesses. Starting with a diagnostic, like the <a href=\"\/\/students-residents.aamc.org\/applying-medical-school\/taking-mcat-exam\/prepare-mcat-exam\/free-planning-and-study-resources\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">AAMC sample test<\/a>, is a great way to get this understanding (and familiarize yourself with the test&#8217;s instructions) so you can succeed on the actual MCAT exam. Good luck!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Looking for the best MCAT prep books? Magoosh&#8217;s experts break down what you should know about MCAT books and materials for 2020-2021.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":218,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[2332],"class_list":["post-385","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mcat-books-resources"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v21.7 (Yoast SEO v21.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Best MCAT Books of 2025 - Magoosh MCAT Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Looking for the best MCAT prep books? Magoosh&#039;s experts break down what you should know about MCAT books and materials for 2025.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/best-mcat-prep-books\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Best MCAT Books of 2025\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Looking for the best MCAT prep books? Magoosh&#039;s experts break down what you should know about MCAT books and materials for 2025.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/best-mcat-prep-books\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Magoosh MCAT Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-10-31T13:00:08+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-04-26T13:40:49+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/image-mcat-header-bestBooks.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Kat Thomson\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Kat Thomson\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/best-mcat-prep-books\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/best-mcat-prep-books\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Kat Thomson\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#\/schema\/person\/e3e7b201569a0128201896d6a7d430e6\"},\"headline\":\"Best MCAT Books of 2025\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-31T13:00:08+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/best-mcat-prep-books\/\"},\"wordCount\":1306,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#organization\"},\"articleSection\":[\"MCAT Books &amp; Resources\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/best-mcat-prep-books\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/best-mcat-prep-books\/\",\"name\":\"Best MCAT Books of 2025 - Magoosh MCAT Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-31T13:00:08+00:00\",\"description\":\"Looking for the best MCAT prep books? Magoosh's experts break down what you should know about MCAT books and materials for 2025.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/best-mcat-prep-books\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/best-mcat-prep-books\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/best-mcat-prep-books\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Best MCAT Books of 2025\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/\",\"name\":\"Magoosh MCAT Blog\",\"description\":\"Get the MCAT score you want\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Magoosh\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2019\/08\/Magoosh-logo-purple-60h.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2019\/08\/Magoosh-logo-purple-60h.png\",\"width\":265,\"height\":60,\"caption\":\"Magoosh\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#\/schema\/person\/e3e7b201569a0128201896d6a7d430e6\",\"name\":\"Kat Thomson\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/38d9e456daccf9523c171dbdd0a11a9f\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3bcb9e462420967ce0b7d455661151fc7ec2fc9c42e06bf1f531c50bedf72a68?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3bcb9e462420967ce0b7d455661151fc7ec2fc9c42e06bf1f531c50bedf72a68?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Kat Thomson\"},\"description\":\"Kat is the Senior Curriculum Manager at Magoosh with a specialty in the MCAT. She has a BA from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Ph.D. in medical sociology from the University of California, San Francisco, where she earned the Distinguished Dissertation Award in the Social and Behavioral Sciences. Kat has been teaching premed and nursing students since 2005 as a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of San Francisco, Bowdoin, and the University of California, Berkeley, while collaborating on multiple research projects and publications. In addition to the MCAT, Kat has taught courses in Research Methods, Gender, Global and Environmental Health, and others. She is passionate about increasing the number of underrepresented minorities in medicine and helping students get into the medical schools of their dreams. You can join Kat on Instagram and YouTube.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=yAi12ZYAAAAJ&amp;hl=en&amp;oi=sra\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/magooshmcat\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCeSvixReLLS6squ5Adhe0wQ\"],\"honorificPrefix\":\"Dr.\",\"honorificSuffix\":\"PhD\",\"award\":[\"Distinguished Dissertation Award in the Social and Behavioral Sciences (UCSF)\"],\"knowsAbout\":[\"MCAT\",\"Medical School\",\"Medicine\"],\"jobTitle\":\"Senior Curriculum Manager, MCAT\",\"worksFor\":\"Magoosh\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/author\/katthomson\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Best MCAT Books of 2025 - Magoosh MCAT Blog","description":"Looking for the best MCAT prep books? Magoosh's experts break down what you should know about MCAT books and materials for 2025.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/best-mcat-prep-books\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Best MCAT Books of 2025","og_description":"Looking for the best MCAT prep books? Magoosh's experts break down what you should know about MCAT books and materials for 2025.","og_url":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/best-mcat-prep-books\/","og_site_name":"Magoosh MCAT Blog","article_published_time":"2025-10-31T13:00:08+00:00","article_modified_time":"2022-04-26T13:40:49+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/image-mcat-header-bestBooks.jpg"}],"author":"Kat Thomson","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Kat Thomson","Est. reading time":"10 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/best-mcat-prep-books\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/best-mcat-prep-books\/"},"author":{"name":"Kat Thomson","@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#\/schema\/person\/e3e7b201569a0128201896d6a7d430e6"},"headline":"Best MCAT Books of 2025","datePublished":"2025-10-31T13:00:08+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/best-mcat-prep-books\/"},"wordCount":1306,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#organization"},"articleSection":["MCAT Books &amp; Resources"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/best-mcat-prep-books\/","url":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/best-mcat-prep-books\/","name":"Best MCAT Books of 2025 - Magoosh MCAT Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#website"},"datePublished":"2025-10-31T13:00:08+00:00","description":"Looking for the best MCAT prep books? Magoosh's experts break down what you should know about MCAT books and materials for 2025.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/best-mcat-prep-books\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/best-mcat-prep-books\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/best-mcat-prep-books\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Best MCAT Books of 2025"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#website","url":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/","name":"Magoosh MCAT Blog","description":"Get the MCAT score you want","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#organization","name":"Magoosh","url":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2019\/08\/Magoosh-logo-purple-60h.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2019\/08\/Magoosh-logo-purple-60h.png","width":265,"height":60,"caption":"Magoosh"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#\/schema\/person\/e3e7b201569a0128201896d6a7d430e6","name":"Kat Thomson","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/38d9e456daccf9523c171dbdd0a11a9f","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3bcb9e462420967ce0b7d455661151fc7ec2fc9c42e06bf1f531c50bedf72a68?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3bcb9e462420967ce0b7d455661151fc7ec2fc9c42e06bf1f531c50bedf72a68?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Kat Thomson"},"description":"Kat is the Senior Curriculum Manager at Magoosh with a specialty in the MCAT. She has a BA from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Ph.D. in medical sociology from the University of California, San Francisco, where she earned the Distinguished Dissertation Award in the Social and Behavioral Sciences. Kat has been teaching premed and nursing students since 2005 as a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of San Francisco, Bowdoin, and the University of California, Berkeley, while collaborating on multiple research projects and publications. In addition to the MCAT, Kat has taught courses in Research Methods, Gender, Global and Environmental Health, and others. She is passionate about increasing the number of underrepresented minorities in medicine and helping students get into the medical schools of their dreams. You can join Kat on Instagram and YouTube.","sameAs":["https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=yAi12ZYAAAAJ&amp;hl=en&amp;oi=sra","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/magooshmcat\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCeSvixReLLS6squ5Adhe0wQ"],"honorificPrefix":"Dr.","honorificSuffix":"PhD","award":["Distinguished Dissertation Award in the Social and Behavioral Sciences (UCSF)"],"knowsAbout":["MCAT","Medical School","Medicine"],"jobTitle":"Senior Curriculum Manager, MCAT","worksFor":"Magoosh","url":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/author\/katthomson\/"}]}},"authors":[{"term_id":2332,"user_id":218,"is_guest":0,"slug":"katthomson","display_name":"Kat Thomson","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3bcb9e462420967ce0b7d455661151fc7ec2fc9c42e06bf1f531c50bedf72a68?s=96&d=mm&r=g","user_url":"","last_name":"Thomson","first_name":"Kat","description":"Kat is the Senior Curriculum Manager at Magoosh with a specialty in the MCAT. She has a BA from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Ph.D. in medical sociology from the University of California, San Francisco, where she earned the Distinguished Dissertation Award in the Social and Behavioral Sciences. Kat has been teaching premed and nursing students since 2005 as a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of San Francisco, Bowdoin, and the University of California, Berkeley, while collaborating on multiple research projects and <a href=\"https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=yAi12ZYAAAAJ&amp;hl=en&amp;oi=sra\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">publications<\/a>.  In addition to the MCAT, Kat has taught courses in Research Methods, Gender, Global and Environmental Health, and others. She is passionate about increasing the number of underrepresented minorities in medicine and helping students get into the medical schools of their dreams. You can join Kat on  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/magooshmcat\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Instagram<\/a> and  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCeSvixReLLS6squ5Adhe0wQ\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">YouTube<\/a>."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/385","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/218"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=385"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/385\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=385"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=385"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=385"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=385"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}