Excerpts from the reviews to the current edition

"… highly readable, thoughtful, comprehensive, and so clear and obvious that you think, "Of course, why couldn’t I have seen it?" Making sense and clearing the fog is an important task that Dr. McWhinney accomplishes with ease, fluency, and facility."

JoAnn Rosenfeld, MD, Family Medicine.

"…. He manages to simplify and distil knowledge so that complex ideas are readily understood by readers. The "Basic Principles" section is the best description of the content and approach of family medicine in the literature." "… residents will find a clear description of the content and context of family medicine. But veterans will find great pleasure in this book. It might rekindle enthusiasm for practice in its inspiring description of how family physicians think and what makes them highly effective."

Tony Reid, MD, CCFP. Canadian Family Physician

"This textbook is not so much a reference text for a day in the office as it is a reference point for a career in the specialty. It is a guidebook for the reflective practitioner." " What job will this textbook help family physicians do better? Understand their patients, their science and themselves. What other job is there?"

William R. Phillips, MD, American Family Physician

"…. A well-written and organized approach to the patient, individual illness, and public health. While it would be, I think, ideally suited to an upper-level medical student or resident, I think that a practicing family physician would find this book useful and inspiring, and a reminder of why we chose family medicine."

Joseph W. Furst, MD. The Journal of Family Practice

"… he is able to show how the diagnostic and management skills of family doctors, concerning both acute and chronic conditions, differ from those of institution-based physicians." "It contains a satisfying and rigorous description of the underlying philosophy, scientific evidence and practical ramifications of true family medicine. It is easy to read, entertaining and instructive, and will provide much opportunity for thought and discussion, among family physicians themselves, their students and their professional colleagues."

Graham Worrall, MD. Canadian Journal of Rural Medicine

"… the earlier chapters on illness in the community, philosophical and scientific foundations of family medicine and doctor-patient communication provide fascinating reading. The more qualitative aspects of general practice encapsulated by these chapters are richly explored. One particular commendation is the liberal use of ethnographic references."

Surinder Singh. Family Practice – an international journal

"Were I teaching today I would certainly use it early in an introduction to clinical medicine course, in any course or clerkship in family medicine, and most certainly with residents."

Theodore J. Phillips, MD. Journal of the American Board of Family Practice