By turns shocking, sad, and funny, the stories and anecdotes that illuminate Michael Dixon's autobiography describe a doctor who feels poorly served by the conventional medicine of his time and is eager to find new ways to relieve the suffering of his patients. Over his thirty-five years as a country general practitioner in Cullompton, Devon, the stories his patients shared inspired an interest in complementary medicine and social prescribing, taking him from a conventional family doctor to a leader in the clinical commissioning movement. As Dixon charts his personal journey over a long and rewarding career, what emerges is a moving portrait of the community he serves.

Dixon's stories show how twenty-first-century general practice and its patients have been betrayed by top-heavy regulation, performance management, and a blame culture. Young doctors no longer want to enter general practice. The author explores why and how pandemics might provide the answers.