Book excerpt: This is a practical and comprehensive guide to communication in family medicine for doctors nurses and staff in the primary healthcare team. It brings together all facets of communication in healthcare including involvement of patients staff and external workers. It shows how to address all aspects of communication in relation to one-to-one situations teaching and groups and encourages the reader to reflect on their own clinical and work experience. Using think boxes exercises and references this is an accessible guide relevant to all members of the practice team.