Below is a selection of recently published books which the Editorial Team at MSo think are of interest to the MedSoc community.
We would welcome formal reviews of any of these publications or alternatively you may add a brief comment here, below the details.
Involving Children and Young People in Health and Social Care Research - Edited by Jennie Fleming, Thilo Boeck
Led by both children’s rights perspectives and methodological arguments, there is an increasing emphasis on children and young people’s participation in health and social care research by researchers, policy makers and funding bodies – with many now considering the active involvement of children and young people a requirement. There is little exploration of how to address and overcome the many challenges arising from their participation, however.
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Improving Organizational Interventions For Stress and Well-Being - Edited by Caroline Biron, Maria Karanika-Murray, Cary Cooper
This book brings together a number of experts in the field of organizational interventions for stress and well-being, and discusses the importance of process and context issues to the success or failure of such interventions. The book explores how context and process can be incorporated into program evaluation, providing examples of how this can be done, and offers insights that aim to improve working life.
Population Mental Health - Edited by Neal Cohen, Sandro Galea
Over the last century public health efforts, such as immunization, safer food practices, public health education and promotion, improved sanitation, and water purification have been very successful in eradicating and controlling a host of diseases. The result has been a dramatic improvement in health and life expectancy. However, the impact that mental illnesses have on individuals and society as a
Children’s Food Practices in Families and Institutions - Edited by Samantha Punch, Ian McIntosh, Ruth Emond
This book brings together recent UK studies into children’s experiences and practices around food in a range of contexts, linking these to current policy and practice perspectives. It reveals that food works not only on a material level as sustenance but also on a symbolic level as something that can stand for thoughts, feelings, and relationships. The three broad contexts of schools, families and care (residential homes and foster care) are explored to show the ways in which both children and adults use food. Food is used as a means by which adults care for children and is also something through which adults manage their own feelings and relationships to each other which in turn impact on children’s experiences.
Gender and Genetics - Sociology of the Prenatal - Kate Reed
Prenatal screening for genetic disorders is becoming an increasingly widespread phenomenon across the globe. While studies have highlighted the importance of women’s experiences of such screening, little is known about men’s roles and direct involvement in this process. With a focus on the experiences of both women and men, this text offers an innovative and passionate account of the gendered nature of prenatal screening.
Technologies of Sexuality, Identity and Sexual Health - Edited by Lenore Manderson
Technologies of Sexuality, Identity and Sexual Health highlights the complex ways in which sexuality is expressed and enacted through local ideologies, global identities and material cultures, and their influence on people’s sexual health and well-being. Its impetus is the renewed interest in technology and the ‘social life of things,’ including pharmaceuticals, expanded sexual and related surgery, the growing exploitation of markets for sexual and contraceptive products, and the impact of these on sexual and health practices and outcomes.
The Institutionalization of Social Welfare - A Study of Medicalizing Management - Mikael Holmqvist
Today most countries rely on formally organized welfare programs - in some cases to the extent that they are labeled "welfare states". These programs, which have been constructed over the last decades, make up a larger national and international system of good intentions. Overall, it appears inconceivable to imagine "civilized society" without a comprehensive organizational system of social welfare.
Biopolitics and the 'Obesity Epidemic' - Edited by Jan Wright, Valerie Harwood
Biopolitics and the ‘Obesity Epidemic’ is the first edited collection of critical perspectives on the 'obesity epidemic.' The volume provides a comprehensive discussion of current issues in the critical analysis of health, obesity and society, and the impact of obesity discourses on different individuals, social groups and institutions. Contributors from the UK, Canada, New Zealand and Australia provide original, accessible, and engaging chapters on issues such as the effects on individuals, families, youths and schools. The timely contributions offered by Biopolitics and the ‘Obesity Epidemic’ to this highly topical area will be of interest to a wide range of readers, including teachers, education professionals, community health and allied professionals, and academics in areas such as education, health, youth studies, social work and psychology.
Ultra-Low Fertility in Pacific Asia - Edited by Paulin Straughan, Angelique Chan, Gavin Jones
Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong SAR are among the very lowest-fertility countries in the whole world, and even China has reached fertility levels lower than those in many European countries. If these levels continue over long periods East Asia will soon face accelerating population decline in addition the changes in age distributions in such populations raise major new questions for planning of economic and social welfare.
The International Legal Governance of the Human Genome - Chamundeeswari Kuppuswamy
The human genome is a well known symbol of scientific and technological progress in the 21st century. However, concerns about the exacerbation of inequalities between the rich and the poor, the developing and the developed states, the healthy and the unhealthy are causing problems for the progress of scientific research. The international community is moving towards a human rights approach in addressing these concerns.
Regenerating Bodies - Tissue & Cell Therapies in the 21st Century - Julie Kent
This exciting book examines how human tissues and cells are being exchanged, commodified and commercialised by new health technologies. Through a discussion of emergent global ‘tissue economies’ the author explores the social dynamics of innovation in the fields of tissue engineering and stem cell science. The book explores how regenerative medicine configures and conceptualises bodies and argues that the development of regenerative medicine is a feminist issue.
Health Equity, Social Justice and Human Rights - Ann Taket
Important links between health and human rights are increasingly recognised and human rights can be viewed as one of the social determinants of health. Furthermore, a human rights framework provides an excellent foundation for advocacy on health inequalities, a value-based alternative to views of health as a commodity, and the opportunity to move away from public health action being based on charity.
Ecological Public Health - Geof Rayner, Tim Lang
What is public health? To some, it is about drains, water, food and housing, all requiring engineering and expert management. To others, it is the State using medicine or health education and tackling unhealthy lifestyles.
Contemporary Theorists for Medical Sociology - Edited by Graham Scambler
Contemporary Theorists for Medical Sociology explores the work of key social theorists and the application of their ideas to issues around health and illness.
The details and descriptions of the books featured on this page are provided by the publishers and the MSo Editorial team can take no responsibility for their accuracy.
To submit a formal review of any of the publications above, or another book, please go to our Book Review submissions page.
Publishers wishing to have their books featured here should contact the Journal Administrator in the first instance.
