Pandemics, substance abuse, natural disasters, obesity, and warfare: the line that once separated health crisis from social crisis no longer exists. Yet while social theories are implied in today's public health arena, they are rarely acknowledged. Now an international panel of leaders in world health explores this vital but understudied aspect of health promotion.

Health and Modernity proceeds from the thesis that contemporary health promotion is, by definition, inextricably linked to its social context. The authors discuss global challenges in terms of cultural capital, risk and causality, systems theory, and the dynamic between individual and community. In the process, they define an entity that:
- Understands the centrality of health to all areas of human life
- Is committed to equity in access to health-promoting resources
- Applies a multidisciplinary approach to public concerns
- Looks beyond quick fixes and simple answers to complex issues
- Employs a variety of political and social agents to accomplish health objectives
- Is dedicated to empowerment, facilitation, and inclusiveness

The insights found in Health and Modernity are certain to raise the level of debate among professionals, researchers, and the academic community in the global/public health and health promotion fields. This visionary volume guides readers from the immediacy of doing toward the deeper meaning that makes such doing possible.

From the reviews:

"McQueen (CDC), Kickbusch (Swiss Federal Office for Health, Bern), and four contributors wrote this book following lengthy discussions about ways to clarify and expand an appropriate theoretical base for the research and practice of health promotion. ? This work demonstrates that the production and distribution of health now depends on empowerment and participation at all levels of society. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students and faculty/researchers." (M. K. Snooks, CHOICE, Vol. 44 (11), August, 2007)