Learning to consult. Rodger Charlton, editor. Oxford: Radcliffe Publishing, 2007 (xiii + 282 pp). ISBN 978 1 85775 852 8.

Consulting is something that every doctor does. For most, it is performed without reflection and for many with only the patient (or a relative) observing. This is a pity because consulting has a rich theoretical framework, and every skill should be practised and refined to ensure it achieves the best outcomes for patients. It should also be an activity, when done well, which provides us with some intrinsic satisfaction.

This book is edited and written by general practitioners but it is aimed at all students, trainees and medical educators, both undergraduate and postgraduate. The authors have extensive clinical and teaching experience, and while all are from the United Kingdom the lessons are universal.