Open College Books
Downloadable Resources for Developing Universities
In many parts of the world, academic books are not adequately available, and almost everywhere they are very expensive. Fortunately, the Internet contains many open-access texts created by university professors, nonprofit groups, or governments, with useful information in the sciences, the humanities, and medicine. These books can be downloaded for free by anyone and most of them can be printed out for free. I have compiled a list of some of these sources. If you need a book but can't find it here, try the excellent Open Textbook Library of the University of Minnesota's Center for Open Education. Also try FreeTechBooks and Rice University's OpenStax. . I have also included some links to related educational resources such as educational videos and online courses, as long as they are free of charge. There are also some lists to subject collections of open-access articles at Cold Spring Harbor's Perspectives in Medicine.
My name is John J. Dziak. I currently am working as a researcher at the Institute for Health Research and Policy at the University of Illinois Chicago. I formerly was an associate research professor in statistics at the Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center at the College of Health and Human Development of the Pennsylvania State University. I am maintaining this site as a volunteer -- as a caveat, I do not have any expertise in most of these subjects, and do not claim endorsement by my current or previous employers.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response
(see also OpenWHO platform)
Agriculture and Food Science
English
- Business Communication for Success (Grand Valley State University Libraries, 2017)
- Monster Book of Language Teaching Activities (US State Department)
- Steps to Success: Crossing the Bridge Between Literacy Research and Practice (Munger, 2016) (CC)
- Successful College Composition (Crowther et al, 2016, English Open Textbooks Book 8) (CC)
- Writing in College: From Competence to Excellence (Guptill, 2016, Open SUNY Textbooks) (CC)
- Writing Spaces Web Writing Style Guide (Balton, Kalmbach & Lowe, Writing Spaces, 2011) (CC)
- Some resources for learning English as a second language: 5minuteenglish, manythings.org, a4esl.org, Coursera online courses (not all Coursera courses are free but some can be audited for free)
Engineering and Computers
Mathematics
(See also AIMOnline Textbooks Initiative)
- Algebra
- Calculus
- Logic
- Statistics (see also Coconino Community College open textbooks on math and statistics)
- Causal Inference: What If (Robins & Hernan, 2020)
- Core Statistics (Ph.D. level) by Simon Wood
- Data Science Cheat Sheet
- Elements of Statistical Learning (Hastie, Tibshirani, & Friedman, 2009; subject to copyright but readable online)
- Foundations of Data Science
- Fundamentals of Clinical Data Science (NIH NCBI Bookshelf)
- Introduction to Statistical Learning with Applications in R (Jamies, Witten, Hastie & Tibshirani)
- Introduction to Statistical Thought (Lavine, 2015)
- Introductory Statistics (Illowsky & Dean, 2017, OpenSTAX)
- Mathematics for Machine Learning
- Natural Resources Biometrics (Kiernan, 2014, Open SUNY Textbooks) (CC)
- NextGenU course in biostatistics
- OpenIntro Statistics site
- Resources to learn the free R statistical package and for specific kinds of analyses in various packages
- Videos: Statistical Matrix (statistics education videos in English, Arabic, Farsi or Japanese) and webcast on improving statistical literacy in Africa
- Think Stats: Exploratory Data Analysis in Python (Downey, 2014) (CC)
Medicine
New: World Health Organization (2022) Pocket Book of Primary Healthcare for Children and Adolescents in English, Ukrainian and Russian
- Anesthesia
- Cancer
- Chronic Diseases
- Clinical Practice
- Internal Medicine
- The Biology of Heart Disease (Cold Spring Harbor)
- Bone: A Regulator of Physiology (Cold Spring Harbor)
- Cystic Fibrosis (Cold Spring Harbor)
- SonoSite clinical sonography images and videos
- Dr. Alan B. R. Thomson, emeritus distingished professor at the University of Alberta, has made several recent texts and reviews on cardiology, neurology, hepatology, gastroenterology, and internal medicine free for download at his site giandhepatology.com. These books include:
- Achieving Excellence in the OSCE
- Bits & Bytes: Surviving Morning Rounds.
- Endoscopy and Diagnostic Imaging, Part 1 (Cardiology, Endocrinology, Hepatology, and Nephrology) and Part 2 (Neurology, Respirology, and Rheumatology).
- First Principles of Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Adults and Children (7th Edition),
- Guideline-Based Management of Gastroenterology and Guideline-Based Management of Hepatology
- Mastering the Boards and Clinical Examinations in Internal Medicine, Part 1 (Cardiology, Endocrinology, Hepatology, and Nephrology) and Part 2 (Neurology, Respirology, and Rheumatology):
- Mastering the Boards, in seven volumes: Neurology; Cardiology; Respirology; Gastroenterology; Hepatology; Rheumology & Endocrinology .
- Medical Mini Review Series in Gastroenterology and Hepatology
- Practice Review in GI and Hepatopancreatobiliary Diseases and Nutrition
- Physiology and Pathophysiology of Gastrointestinal and Hepatopancreaticobiliary Disorders
- Scientific Basis for Clinical Practice in Gastroenterology and Hepatology
- Hospice Care
- Infectious Diseases (see also several downloadable books from Parasites without Borders charity)
- Low-Resource Settings (also see Research for Life)
- African Models for Capacity Building in Womens' Cancer Care in Fragile Conflict-Impacted Ecosystems
- BMJ Global Health Journal (open access)
- tr
- Community Health Worker Central resources
- Belly Pain, Diarrhea, and Worms (Hesperian Health Guides)
- Central Asian Journal of Global Health
- Clinical Guidelines: Diagnosis and Treatment Manual by Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres in English, French, and Spanish
- Emergency Illnesses and Major Injuries Affecting Infants and Children; Including Adolescent Girls Who Are Pregnant (handbook 1) and Serious Illnesses in Infants and Children; Including Adolescent Girls Who Are Pregnant (handbook 2) (Maternal and Childbirth Advocacy International)
- Evidence Aid resources
- Ghana-UM Collaboration Information Resources (Gurpreet Rana, University of Michigan)
- Handbook of Hospital Care for Newborn Infants (Maternal and Childbirth Advocacy International)
- Health for the People: National Community Health Worker Programs from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe (USAID)
- Health Information for All website and email list
- Improving Health Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Case Book (Springer)
- In-Country Management and Distribution of Long Lasting Insecticide-Treated Nets (Catholic Relief Services, 2014)
- International Health (open access journal of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine)
- International Maternal and Child Health Care - A practical manual for hospitals worldwide (Maternal and Childbirth Advocacy International, 2014)
- International Society for Neglected Tropical Diseases Research Hub
- Leprosy Information Services
- Maternal and Childbirth Advocacy International downloadable textbooks
- Maternal mortality reports at the Center for International Reproductive Health Training
- MEDBOX: The Aid Library
- Medical Handbook for Limited Resource Settings V2 (Griffin & Preatoni, 2022)
- National Institutes of Health Fogarty Library E-Learning Resources for Global Health Researchers
- Multilanguage Tools for Evidence-Based Practice (UK Health Security Agency)
- NextGenU courses on environmental health, war and health
- Paediatric Surgery: A Comprehensive Text for Africa (Ameh et al., 2011, Global HELP)
- Parasitic Diseases (Despommier et al 2019, Parasites without Borders) - downloadable in English or Spanish, with additional clinical appendix
- PLOS Global Public Health (journal)
- PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases (journal)
- Psychological First Aid training program (Save the Children, 2017)
- Online journal on healthcare in low-income settings
- Operational Guidance Mental Health & Psychosocial Support Programming for Refugee Operations (UNHCR, 2013)
- Reproductive complications resources at the Center for International Reproductive Health Training
- Resources for Developing Country Researchers (IDRC Information and Research Support Services, June 2015)
- Snakebite treatment guidelines from WHO
- Website on frugal innovation in medicine
- WHO compendium on new and emerging technologies in low-resource settings
- WHO guidelines on supporting community-based health care workers
- Ophthalmology
- SEE International Resource Library
- Advances in Eye Surgery (Intech; download chapters separately, such as Diagnostics) (CC)
- BMJ Open Opthalmology Journal
- CyberSight -- requires free registration but offers many free videos, lectures, textbooks and manuals
- Diabetes Eye Health: A Guide for Health Professionals (Hollows Foundation, International Diabetes Federation)
- Eyeglasses for Global Development: Bridging the Visual Divide (World Economic Forum, 2016)
- EyeTube videos
- NeuroOpthalmology Virtual Education Library
- Apparently free online courses in multiple languages at Global Optometry Resources
- Open access opthalmology journals directory
- Ophthalmic Operating Theatre Practice: A Manual for Lower-Resource Settings (Machin, 2016, International Centre for Eye Health) (CC)
- Retinal Disorders (Cold Spring Harbor)
- Surgical Ophthalmic Oncology (Springer, 2019)
- Diabetic Retinopathy for the Comprehensive Ophthalmologist (2nd Edition, Dr. Jonathan Walker)
- Terminology and Guidelines for Glaucoma (European Glaucoma Society, 4th ed)
- Physical Therapy and Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Public Health (see also OpenWHO platform)
- Surgery
- Women's Health
- Comprehensive Cervical Cancer Control: A guide to essential practice (2nd ed.) (WHO, 2014)
- FIGO Textbook of Pregnancy Hypertension (Global Library of Women's Medicine, 2016)
- Practical Obstetric Fistula Surgery (Hancock, 2009)
- Handbook of Hospital Care for Maternal Emergencies Including Major Trauma, International Maternal and Child Health Care - A practical manual for hospitals worldwide, Pocket Book of Hospital Care For Neonates & Infants, and other Maternal and Childbirth Advocacy International downloadable textbooks (2014, 2021)
- International Maternal & Child Health Care: A practical manual for hospitals worldwide
- Introduction to Obstetric Fistula Surgery (Global Library of Women's Medicine, 2013)
- A New Look at Care in Pregnancy: Simple, Effective Interventions for Neglected Populations (PLOS ONE article)
- Pregnancy and Birth (Hesperian)
- Use of Multiple Micronutrient Powders for Point-of-Use Fortification of Foods Consumed by Pregnant Women (WHO, 2016)
- Directories of open-access academic medical books and articles:
- Instructional Videos, Lessons and Simulations
Natural Science
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Earth Science
Social Issues
- Children's Health
- Disabilities
- Drug Abuse
- Economic Development
- Human Trafficking
- Violence
Social Sciences
- Education
- Psychology
- Philosophy
Other Directories of Open-access Texts and Textbooks:
Instructional Videos and Online Courses
Further information and disclaimer:
I cannot evaluate the resources in the article, but they may be useful. I have tried to include only resources with useful information from respectable sources. However, this is only a directory and I cannot endorse or take responsibility for all the contents of all the sources. Occasionally I might not agree with all of the opinions or recommendations in a book, and most often I do not have the expertise to determine whether a book is accurate. As always, it is important to use multiple sources and your own common sense. Documents marked as (CC) are under some kind of Creative Commons license, which usually means they can be freely distributed under reasonable conditions (like not changing them or taking personal credit for them). Some other documents, such as those from Hesperian Health Guides, do not have this license, so you can use them personally but should ask for permission before redistributing them, in order to respect copyright. If you have suggestions or concerns please email me at dziakj1@gmail.com or jjd264@psu.edu. This site is dedicated in memory of Dr. Robert Franz. Special thanks to Valerie Walker at Global Medical Libraries for her help and encouragement.