This series of books is designed to help general practitioners. So are
other books. What is unusual in this instance is their collec- tive
authorship; they are written by specialists working at district general
hospitals. The writers derive their own experi- ence from a range of
cases less highly selected than those on which textbooks are
traditionally based. They are also in a good position to pick out topics
which they see creating difficulties for the practitioners of their
district, whose personal capacities are familiar to them; and to
concentrate on contexts where mistakes are most likely to occur. They
are all well-accustomed to working in consultation. All the authors
write from hospital experience and from the viewpoint of their
specialty. There are, therefore, matters important to family practice
which should be sought not within this series, but elsewhere. Within the
series much practical and useful advice is to be found with which the
general practitioner can compare his existing performance and build in
new ideas and improved techniques. These books are attractively produced
and I recommend them.