Denis Pereira Gray CRC Press, 2024, PB, 482pp, £34.99, 978-1032522722

General practice is changing. It changed dramatically in the last 50 years, but where is it going now and who is shaping it? Sir Denis Pereira Gray was an eyewitness to the changes and shaped many of them with his vision for the discipline of general practice. The essence of a discipline is having a research-based body of knowledge that can be taught. He has been described as ‘one of the prophets’ in general practice, and ‘the patients’ champion.’

He grew up in Exeter learning his love for and the value of good general practice from his father and grandfather in their family business — general practice. At Cambridge he played and studied chess more than medicine. He believes ‘chess is good training in trying to foresee the best possible move by a competitor or opponent.’ As he progressed from clinical student to junior doctor and new GP, he discovered that his hospital-based teachers, seniors, and colleagues constantly belittled general practice. If GPs deserved any consideration, it was …