Introduction to Public Health

by Mary Jane Schneider (Illustrator)

As public health concerns and controversies have continued to evolve, the new Third Edition of this best-selling text offers new and updated discussions of current topics, recent events, and the most up-to-date data to illustrate the key issues that affect the public s health. Key The author uses a reader-friendly, narrative style making the text engaging and accessible to a broad range of students. The text illustrates the multidisciplinary nature of public health and the complex ethical and political issues central to it. It includes discussions of epidemiological investigation, biomedical research, environmental assessment, analyses of individual and group behavior, massive data collection efforts, and policy developments. New to the Third New or expanded sections covering Pandemic Flu, Response to Hurricane Katrina, FDA Regulation of Tobacco, Promoting Physical Activity Poisoning (now the #2 cause of injury death), Nonfatal Traumatic Brain Injuries, National Children s Study, Coal Ash and other unregulated waste from power plants, Medical errors, and Information Technology. New information/discussion H1N1 swine flu; Conflicts of interest in drug trials; Problems in planning for the 2010 census; Genomic medicine; Cell phones/texting while driving; National birth defects prevention study; The new HPV vaccine controversy; Lead paint in toys imported from china; Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates; The recent Salmonella outbreak in Peanut Butter; Contaminated drug imports from China; Managed care efforts to control medical costs; Evaluation of Healthy People 2010 and planning for Healthy People 2020. New examples Andrew Speaker/Extremely Drug Resistant (XDR) Tuberculosis; Football players and increased risk for dementia later in life

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Textbooks, Health, Science, School, Society

595 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1999

Reviews

[Ava Kominski]

My favorite part of the semester is getting to add my textbooks to my Goodreads.

[Scott Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ironically, public health has been one of the most successful academic fields since 1900, yet still struggles to implement its agenda on the public (at least, in America). It is responsible for most of the doubling of life expectancy in America and for vast improvements in the quality of life. Schneider excellently chronicles those contributions with an eye towards the present and the future.

She covers her topics in an accessible, easy-to-read manner that does not skimp on academic rigor. Topics are as varied as the future of public health, the history of infectious diseases, social and behavioral factors in health, and analytical tools of public health. She includes many twenty-first-century and American issues like bioterrorism, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and political roadblocks to the advancement of health.

Schneider’s passion is not merely academic. She teaches her subject with an aim to instill her passion for health into her readers. She directly attempts to advocate for what she views as the best option for the health of the public. She opens this book with a section on public health in the news and is never timid about controversial material after that. Some readers might disagree with her opinions about such timely topics, but at the very least, they are forced to reason through their objections. Her motive seems relatively pure and not merely political, so I hope readers can give her the benefit of the doubt in granting her views a hearing.

This book is suitable for a college class or even an in-depth graduate school class. Its strength can be seen in that it is now in a sixth edition with a history spanning decades. Each chapter has dozens of endnotes for further investigation. The relatively simple style of language combined with erudition can reach a broad range of audiences in higher education. It has an obvious bias towards American subjects yet still touches on issues in global health.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and wish that I had found it years earlier. It did the trick for me – which is to say that it taught me about health from the public’s perspective, not from the limited, sometimes myopic perspective of medical professions. I feel inspired to make healthier choices that are informed by this broad overview that is the field of public health. Schneider has attempted something big in this work, and she pulled it off. Hopefully, students will have ears and eyes to learn.

[Sarah Jensen]

"Introduction to Public Health" by Mary Jane Schneider provides an insightful overview of the public health landscape, highlighting both its historical successes and the challenges it faces in implementation within America. Since 1900, public health initiatives have significantly contributed to increased life expectancy and enhanced quality of life. However, Schneider emphasizes that there is still much work to be done in ensuring these benefits are fully realized across diverse populations.

Schneider presents her topics in a manner that is both accessible and academically rigorous, making the text suitable for both college and graduate-level courses. The key subjects covered include the future of public health, infectious diseases, social determinants of health, and analytical tools necessary for public health practice. Notably, the book also tackles contemporary issues such as bioterrorism and the implications of the Affordable Care Act, ensuring that readers are well-informed about pressing matters in the field.

One of the strengths of Schneider's writing is her passionate advocacy for public health, which shines through as she candidly addresses controversial topics. The sixth edition of the book maintains relevance by incorporating current trends and challenges, making it a timely resource for students and professionals alike.

Each chapter is equipped with extensive endnotes that encourage further research, allowing readers to delve deeper into specific areas of interest. Schneider successfully combines simple language with scholarly content, making the material approachable for a wide audience, including those new to the field or those seeking a broader perspective on health beyond the confines of the medical profession.

Ultimately, "Introduction to Public Health" inspires readers to make informed, healthier choices and aims to engage students in the vital field of public health. It is a valuable addition to any educational curriculum and an essential resource for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of public health today.

[Rainier Moreno-Lacalle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Schneider's book on public health provides a comprehensive take on the public health system. The book is well-connected from prologue to end, scaffolded from a selected cases along AIDS epidemic, Cryptosporidium in Milwaukee water, and terrorist attacks. Most chapter discussions are anchored on these exemplars making it understandable and clearly explained hence pointing to concrete examples, gaps, and probable solutions to problems. My best takeaway from this book is that public health is both science and politics. This is one of the best public health books I read!

[Kit Yung Tan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Schneider gives a very comprehensive overview of Public Health issues in the United States. The book is structured well and I felt it was great for a PH novice like me. I would recommend this textbook to anyone interested in learning about PH.

That said, Schneider peppers many of her opinions throughout the text, so it may sound biased, especially on political issues (but she did warn the reader in the Preface). This personal touch ironically is also what makes the book engaging. Pick your battles!

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is so good. I wrote the author to let her know how much I appreciated this book. Being a public health major, there is a lot of reading and a lot of repeat information. Many books are not very well written and are hard to grasp the concepts you’ve never heard before but Mary Jane Schneider does a tremendous job of keeping the material interesting and truly understandable. I would recommend this to someone who wasn’t even in a class. Bravo.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oddly engaging for a college course book - case studies relating to topics made chapters much more interesting than an average textbook. Overall, will likely read certain passages/review certain chapters in the future.

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty good comprehensive book on the overview of the public health sphere. Would recommend.

[Queralt]

Neverending

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read parts of this book while I was volunteering on a planning committee on a college conference on the public health approach to suicide prevention on college campuses. Most people on the committee worked in public health while I knew very little about it. This book helped me get up to speed a little on public health in general.

[Karen Verdier · Rating 1 out of 5]

This a textbook? AWFUL is the closest word I can use to describe this book. Why? Too much of the author's opinions are rampant in this textbook.

I was terribly disappointed in chapter one, not a good thing, and this continued throughout the book. If this the only textbook is being used to form future public health professionals, then this is quite sad.

[Kandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I use the 3rd edition (not on Good Reads for some reason) of Mary Schneider's text in my Community Health & Emergency Management graduate course. It is a solid overview of public health written in a very accessible style.

[Makara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good

[Murali Kanasappa · Rating 4 out of 5]

My bible at the onset of my postgrad journey.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprisingly compelling read for a text book!

[Rizzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

for my cph subj. ;))

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good, easy, engaging read- first text book I didn't dread reading (except maybe the chapters on policy reform...).

[Melissa Cowder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was used as a textbook for one of my classes. While the book contained a lot of good information, it was a little dry for my liking. It's easy enough to get through and worth reading.

[JUDY G. DAVIS]

Each person are still waiting temperature control panel discussion forum members that would be fine but if he does a few minutes before then we could meet us know!lol yeah spend money 💰!