This book investigates the discrepancy between the idealized model of evidence-based practice and the actual cognitive processes clinicians use to make decisions in real-world settings. John Gabbay, a prominent researcher in medical sociology and health services, utilizes extensive ethnographic research and observational data to challenge the rigid application of clinical guidelines. He introduces the concept of 'mindlines'—internalized, collectively reinforced knowledge—to explain how practitioners synthesize evidence, experience, and social interaction to inform their daily clinical work.

Experts in medical education and health policy recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the limitations of top-down clinical guidelines. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which provides a rigorous sociological perspective on the realities of medical practice.