"A Diffident Doctor" is a fascinating look into one American doctor's life, spanning from his early childhood in Illinois in the 1930s to his retirement days in Nevada after 1998. Dr. Moffet's personal story presents an intimate snapshot of history, culture, politics, and major events of that time. Diligently taking brief notes throughout life, Moffet's stark presentation of American medical practice over the past 50-plus years reveals just how much diagnostic methods and medications as well as the diseases themselves have changed. His awareness of the ever-growing politics, as it interlaced with medical practice, is honest and unbiased, offering a neutral perspective on an extremely controversial topic. From his journey beginning in a small town, to a Harvard College scholarship and then medical school at Yale, to his studies in infectious diseases and practice in pediatrics in Wisconsin, Moffet's life complete with the ups and downs is a testament to the persevering American spiri