As an experienced neurologist (read ‘old’)I have spent decades and read many books about interviewing: neurological, psychiatric, difficult, challenging, etc., etc. In serial publications over 20 years or more, Dr. Miller and others have refined the process of how to converse to effectively motivate patients to do what (you think) they should do.

Doctors know that figuring out what a patient needs is only the beginning of the overall process. Selling the patient is important in medicine if optimum results are to be attained. This book is a communication guide. This book shows you how to convince the patient he needs and really wants to buy your product for his own good.

In an intelligent and logically organized fashion, this thin book (2-3 hours max to get through, but then more time later to restudy and refine technique) provides a matrix from which to work to induce your patient to internalize wanting and needing to do what he should do for optimal health. It shows physicians or counselors how to begin therapy after making a diagnosis and reinforces a teamlike approach where resistance or escapism can often show up.

If you recall the book The House of God, one of the first rules proferred was that the patient is always the one with the problem. This book guides the doctor to show the patient why he needs to take on his problem and be motivated to handle his part optimally for his own good.

As I improve my use of these straightforward techniques, I am considering jettisoning the ballpeen hammer I used to use for the same purpose. There is nothing earth shattering here. I have and likely we all have used these techniques at times, but this book puts it together as I suspect few of us have done as concisely independently.

I recommend this book strongly, and I would not buy any of the preceding ones (not that I have read them all, but it seems this book must be the denoument). This would be excellent reading in medical school and any time after. There is nothing this old dog likes better than learning and improving efficiency. Counseling is a big part of our job and one cannot help but improve technique and outcomes with these insights. My patients will fare better because I read this book and, well, what else is there?

Rating: 5 / 5

Edward Bernstein, MD

Board Certified in Emergency Medicine and Family Medicine

Professor and Vice Chair for Academic Affairs

Department of Emergency Medicine

Boston University School of Medicine Rating: 5 / 5