“This little book is well written and has a pleasant, informal style… The first part of the book covers what [the author] calls the soft skills, but what could be called the social skills required to make the consultation work most successfully… This section might be ideal for a trainer with a trainee facing clinical skills assessment. … The second part of the book tries to encourage and enable the career GP to look after themselves. Again, well written, it is full of useful advice…. To sum up, a short book from which every GP might learn something.” Br J Gen Pract , February 2019 “At times nostalgic, but frequently emotional and so positive, this book is an easy-access antidote to the calls for resilience and the anti-patient rhetoric that seems to appear all too commonly on social media, and is a well-timed reminder of why we do the job we do and how to do it effectively.” Pulse , June 2018 The Art of General Practice is a short text written by an experienced GP and GP trainer. It is a book which will help focus the mind of the reader (GPs of all decriptions: young GPs, returners to general practice and even jaded GPs) on what it means to be a GP. Too often general practice focuses on guidelines, ever-changing targets, incentives or the academic side of medicine and the art and craft of being a GP is forgotten. This book aims to redress the balance; it helps the reader refocus on the emotional intelligence needed to be a great GP. The book consists of a number of short chapters so the busy GP can dip in and out of it as time allows – each chapter helps the reader re-centre on the core skills and techniques needed to be a great GP, and the benefits these skills will bring to both GPs and patients alike. There is almost no medicine in this book; it is a book of life experiences, anecdotes and suggestions – all aimed to help you survive the increasing pressures of general practice and make your life as a GP more interesting and less stressful. Contents SECTION 1 SOFT SKILLS 1. Greeting the patient 2. More greetings 3. Routines 4. One consultation, one problem 5. Don’t say that! 6. Only the lonely 7. I second that emotion 8. Seeing the world through the patient’s eyes 9. “Take (extra) care” 10. Second opinions 11. Silence and small talk 12. Shared grief 13. Dying to help 14. It’s all a game of chess 15. The return of vinyl 16. The best form of defence? 17. The best form of defence, part 2 SECTION 2 LOOKING AFTER NUMBER ONE or STAYIN’ ALIVE 18. Finding the sweet spot 19. “I try to look after myself so I can look after you” 20. I’m curious to know if you’re curious 21. Yes but….. 22. Get off the bus 23. Timing is everything 24. Go off-piste 25. Good connections 26. Tools in the toolbox Conclusion