What do you think?
Rate this book
No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency #6.7
Doctors, Detectives, Common Sense
Some light-hearted fun. Mma Ramotswe visits her GP for her annual check-up.
This story originally appeared in the British Medical Journal: BMJ 2005; 331 (vol 331, issue 7531, 22 December 2005).
Available free on the author's website under the Story Calendar tab & at bmj.com.
This story originally appeared in the British Medical Journal: BMJ 2005; 331 (vol 331, issue 7531, 22 December 2005).
Available free on the author's website under the Story Calendar tab & at bmj.com.
5 pages, ebook
First published December 20, 2005
567 people want to read
About the author
Alexander McCall Smith
614Ìýbooks12.4kÌýfollowersAlexander McCall Smith is the author of the international phenomenon The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, the Isabel Dalhousie Series, the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series, and the 44 Scotland Street series. He is professor emeritus of medical law at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and has served on many national and international bodies concerned with bioethics. He was born in what is now known as Zimbabwe and he was a law professor at the University of Botswana. He lives in Scotland. Visit him online at , on , and on .
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 3, 2021
4�
Dr Modisapodi raised an eyebrow. ‘But there’s not very much that happens in my waiting room.�
Mma Ramotswe laughed. ‘There is, you know. I was able to work out exactly who everybody was. That’s what I did. And I was able to see what was wrong with each of them.�
Dr Modisapodi looked at her in surprise. ‘I see,� he said. ‘So you could do my job, do you think, Mma?��
This is a predictably appealing story about popular Mma Ramotswe, founder of the in Botswana. How could I not enjoy the repartee between this “traditionally built� African woman and her doctor at her annual check-up?
I especially liked the clever little trick of the doctor’s at the end.
It’s free on the author's website, and I recommend it for a nice break between all the other things you think you must do immediately. They can wait a few minutes, can’t they?
Dr Modisapodi raised an eyebrow. ‘But there’s not very much that happens in my waiting room.�
Mma Ramotswe laughed. ‘There is, you know. I was able to work out exactly who everybody was. That’s what I did. And I was able to see what was wrong with each of them.�
Dr Modisapodi looked at her in surprise. ‘I see,� he said. ‘So you could do my job, do you think, Mma?��
This is a predictably appealing story about popular Mma Ramotswe, founder of the in Botswana. How could I not enjoy the repartee between this “traditionally built� African woman and her doctor at her annual check-up?
I especially liked the clever little trick of the doctor’s at the end.
It’s free on the author's website, and I recommend it for a nice break between all the other things you think you must do immediately. They can wait a few minutes, can’t they?
November 21, 2021
I like leaving space between authors but it can be fun to jump right into another outing with a lovely personage. I was able to orchestrate the best of both pleasures by reading the fourth “No. 1 Ladies� Detective Agency� story 1½ month ago and reviewing it today. Next, I saw that there is a free short story about Precious Ramotswe and indulged in it straightaway. I might as well keep the good feel going and the memory of details flowing by reviewing it now, too!
Published in a British medical journal for some reason in 2005, possibly as a joke - unless the marvels of red bush tea are real; I shuddered to think what a scenario entitled �Doctors, Detectives, Commonsense� would entail. The synopsis refers to an annual physical and as a lady who will NOT accept a male practitioner, I hoped Alexander McCall Smith would not go into detail. Thankfully, he did not! Precious’s discomfort lied in Dr. Leonard Modisapodi’s disapproval of her shape. Recognizing that all sizes have inherent beauty is separate from looking out for good health. Precious knows better than to make excuses.
This nice short story sets the scene of Precious, in a time without people plucking cell phone buttons, enjoying an hour of air-conditioning in the reception room by exercising her mind. Her trusty instruction manual, Clovis Andersen’s “The Principles Of Private Detection�, clearly has taught her thoroughly and served her well because it said that she could learn to look at a room of strangers and decide who they are without asking questions and she succeeded.
Dr. Modisapodi enjoyed her treatise on the detecting in their professions and was amazed at the accuracy of her observations. It is sweet that red bush tea was her prescription for all the medical concerns!
Published in a British medical journal for some reason in 2005, possibly as a joke - unless the marvels of red bush tea are real; I shuddered to think what a scenario entitled �Doctors, Detectives, Commonsense� would entail. The synopsis refers to an annual physical and as a lady who will NOT accept a male practitioner, I hoped Alexander McCall Smith would not go into detail. Thankfully, he did not! Precious’s discomfort lied in Dr. Leonard Modisapodi’s disapproval of her shape. Recognizing that all sizes have inherent beauty is separate from looking out for good health. Precious knows better than to make excuses.
This nice short story sets the scene of Precious, in a time without people plucking cell phone buttons, enjoying an hour of air-conditioning in the reception room by exercising her mind. Her trusty instruction manual, Clovis Andersen’s “The Principles Of Private Detection�, clearly has taught her thoroughly and served her well because it said that she could learn to look at a room of strangers and decide who they are without asking questions and she succeeded.
Dr. Modisapodi enjoyed her treatise on the detecting in their professions and was amazed at the accuracy of her observations. It is sweet that red bush tea was her prescription for all the medical concerns!
December 21, 2021
I read this way back in February but for some reason I forgot to write a review so here it is now.
The title describes the story perfectly. Mma Ramotswe watches other patients in the doctor's surgery while she waits for her own appointment and uses her detective skills to analyse them. When she eventually sees the doctor she impresses him with her abilities.
As usual for this author the writing is excellent, the observations clever, and there is a lot of gentle humour throughout. It was a pleasure to read.
The title describes the story perfectly. Mma Ramotswe watches other patients in the doctor's surgery while she waits for her own appointment and uses her detective skills to analyse them. When she eventually sees the doctor she impresses him with her abilities.
As usual for this author the writing is excellent, the observations clever, and there is a lot of gentle humour throughout. It was a pleasure to read.
February 2, 2021
Doctors, detectives, common sense is a short story by popular Scottish author, Alexander McCall Smith. Mma Ramotswe goes to her GP for her annual check-up. She arrives early, and observes those sharing the waiting room, and later remarks to the doctor just how similar their jobs are. Laugh-out-loud funny.
Available free online at
Available free online at
July 14, 2021
This was a very short story and absolutely adorable! I love Precious and her red bush tea--evidently the cure-all for every ailment! 🤗
March 30, 2022
Very short story about Precious Ramotswe going in for her annual physical and trying to decide whether she or her doctor are the best at understanding people by just watching their behavior. This was cute and can be found on Alexander McCall Smith's author page. It is only 5 pages long.
March 11, 2021
Cute quick story. Just about done with the novels so I'll have to tackle a few more of these short stories.
September 12, 2021
An amusing Botswana short story
January 26, 2022
Delightful short story
June 17, 2022
It was obvious.
December 30, 2022
I just Mma Ramotswe. I feel the need for red bush tea!!
June 19, 2023
A delightful short story. Mma Ramotswe is going for her annual physical. She compares notes with the doctor about how detectives and doctors are similar.
July 23, 2024
Cute little vignette between Mme Ramotswe and her doctor.
December 11, 2024
Cute!!!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.