Sickness and Health in America: Readings in the History of Medicine and Public Health by Judith W. Leavitt

From the Publisher

An invaluable resource for students, scholars, and general readers, this highly regarded and widely used social history of medicine and public health in the United States is now available in a third edition. Extensively revised and updated, it includes twenty-one new essays; graphs illustrating the rise in deaths caused by HIV, homicide, and suicide; and a greatly expanded Guide to Further Reading. Entirely new sections on Sickness and Health, Early American Medicine, Therapeutics, the Art of Medicine, and Public Health and Personal Hygiene have been added, supplementing updated sections on the Science of Medicine, Education, the Allied Health Professions, Image and Income, Institutions, Race and Medicine, Epidemics, Public Health Reform, and Public Health and Medical Theory. An introductory essay and a series of historical photographs complement the articles.

S. Edwards Dismuke

This third edition book of 36 short essays on the history of medicine and public health in America follows the second edition by 12 years. Its purpose is to present a broad and updated version of its last edition. Because of a rapidly expanding field with multiple new publications and widening health concerns of the general population, the book is a timely addition to American healthcare history. Although not stated explicitly, the book is apparently designed as an introductory reader for basic courses in the history of American medicine and public health. In fact, the book should find a broad general readership ranging from historians to health science profession to lay readers who wish to be more informed and less ""in awe"" of American healthcare. Although pictures, graphs and figures are somewhat limited, this 600-page book is well referenced and includes a 10 page guide to further reading that is divided into general and topical subjects. The book includes an 8-page historical overview of health and sickness in America, 14 sections with brief introductions, and 36 readings prepared by 35 highly reputable authors. In this time of rapid and significant change in American healthcare, it is important to place our period in historical perspective. This book provides such a perspective and does so in a most entertaining way. This third edition is significantly updated from its predecessor. Twenty-one of the 36 essays have been replaced and 5 new clusters of essays have been added. The overview includes new data from the 1980s and 1990s. No standardized format is followed and each essay has its strengths and weaknesses. Overall, this work is an excellent overview that makes forinteresting reading.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:S. Edwards Dismuke, MD, MPH (University of Kansas School of Medicine)
Description:This third edition book of 36 short essays on the history of medicine and public health in America follows the second edition by 12 years.
Purpose:Its purpose is to present a broad and updated version of its last edition. Because of a rapidly expanding field with multiple new publications and widening health concerns of the general population, the book is a timely addition to American healthcare history.
Audience:Although not stated explicitly, the book is apparently designed as an introductory reader for basic courses in the history of American medicine and public health. In fact, the book should find a broad general readership ranging from historians to health science profession to lay readers who wish to be more informed and less "in awe" of American healthcare.
Features:Although pictures, graphs and figures are somewhat limited, this 600-page book is well referenced and includes a 10 page guide to further reading that is divided into general and topical subjects. The book includes an 8-page historical overview of health and sickness in America, 14 sections with brief introductions, and 36 readings prepared by 35 highly reputable authors.
Assessment:In this time of rapid and significant change in American healthcare, it is important to place our period in historical perspective. This book provides such a perspective and does so in a most entertaining way. This third edition is significantly updated from its predecessor. Twenty-one of the 36 essays have been replaced and 5 new clusters of essays havebeen added. The overview includes new data from the 1980s and 1990s. No standardized format is followed and each essay has its strengths and weaknesses. Overall, this work is an excellent overview that makes for interesting reading.

Rating

4 Stars! from Doody

Product Details

• Table of Contents

Table of Contents