“I found it a relaxing, ‘feel good’ read and an inspiring smorgasbord of the joys of long-term general practice…”

A long-term family GP has a unique window into the lives of many different kinds of people. We travel with our patients through the ups and downs of their life journeys: guiding, supporting and sometimes merely bearing witness to distress and joy alike. “Silver Linings” by Dr Mrin Nayagam, is a beautiful exploration of the deeply rewarding parts of our job as doctors. Through twenty-two true patient stories, it celebrates the triumph of human nature over adversity, the varied and interesting medicine seen in general practice, and the important role a trusted family doctor can play in helping patients with their struggles. The writing is clear and engaging.  Suitable for a lay audience, it explains medical concepts, treatments, and conditions in easily understood terms, making use of explanations and analogies no doubt accumulated over the many years Dr Nayagam has been demystifying medical jargon for her patients.  There is no doubt that she is an excellent communicator and much loved by her patients. Many doctors think at some point that they would like to write a book about patients they’ve seen.  Few doctors write one.  Among other reasons, we cite lack of time and poor formal writing skills, but I think what holds us back the most is concern about doctor-patient confidentiality.  Dr Nayagam dealt with this aspect by contacting memorable patients and then, with full consent, interviewed each at length outside the context of the medical consultation.  While no doubt time consuming, it had the added benefit of encouraging self-reflection and, at times, personal growth of her interviewees, through the interview process itself. I found it a relaxing, “feel good” read and an inspiring smorgasbord of the joys of long-term general practice.  Dr Nayagam’s kindness, curiosity, and social consciousness shone through her writing and I wish her all the best with her charitable ventures.