Routledge Health and Illness in a Changing Society

Health and illness are intensely personal matters. It seems self evident that health is a basic necessity of the 'good life', though it is often taken for granted. Illness, on the other hand challenges our sense of security and may introduce acute anxiety into our lives. Health and Illness in a Changing Society provides a lively and critical account of the impact of social change on the experience of health and illness. It also examines the different sociological perspectives that have been used to analyse health matters. While some of the ideas developed in the last twenty years remain relevant to social research in health today, many are in need of urgent revision. Review 'An excellent guide. An extensive and distinguished teaching and research career gives Bury a unique vantage point from which to write this overview of the subject ... Bury charts a humane, scholarly and wise path through the complexities of social inequalities in health, relations between patients and their doctors and issues surrounding death and dying.' - Times Higher Education Supplement'This book is a simply structured, and thoughtful review of a discipline, written by someone who has taught it over the years ... in summarising the extensive literature, trends and debates of the 1990s (and incidentally by including italicised keywords and concepts), the book will be of great assistance to both the student and teacher of medical sociology.' - Sociology of Health and Illness'An ideal introduction to the sociology of health and illness, being clearly written and wide ranging.' - Medical Sociology News'Plenty of ideas and insights for all to investigate and reflect upon.' - Health Matters