By approaching clinical medicine in a practical and demystified fashion, this engaging, focused guide helps you master your most important everyday tasks

The clinical exam is a tangible way of truly being with another person while collecting key information. Humans are delightfully quirky, such that the way in which they describe symptoms often requires an open and tuned-in human ear to truly understand and contextualize their stories. Physical connection, providing comfort and healing through touch, can only be delivered when you are next to another living soul. Helping others through medicine is an immensely rewarding activity and being connected to someone, hearing their stories, and guiding their care in a hands-on manner, is a unique privilege that we should all hold onto tightly.

With its pragmatic approach, Lange’s History Taking Handbook, Physical Exam, and Functioning in the Hospital and Clinic helps make the learning process both fun and rewarding. Core behaviors are described which have diagnostic utility and prolonged applicability, even in a technology driven world. There are always new techniques to learn and unusual findings to incorporate into your personal libraries of medical experience. However, unless you take the time to build a solid foundation, you will never have confidence in the accuracy and value of what you can uncover with a sharp mind, attentive ear, agile fingers, and a few simple tools!