Tasty books

It is not often that editorial space is used to review books, but several recent publications seem so pertinent I could not resist. I realise that most readers have sufficient difficulty consuming all the journals they wish and that reading a book is far more time consuming. That is why reviews are important. I assure you these are worth the trouble.

Recommending books is, however, much like preparing a banquet. Few chefs intend that every dish be eaten to the last mouthful. Instead, they tempt us to savour bits here and there and hope that on another occasion, when we are hungrier or have more time, we will return to try some more.

In the case of the five books that prompted this departure from editorial custom, one is short enough to be digested at a single sitting; two are full course meals, and the last two, because they are so satisfying and easily digestible, deserve the ultimate commitment.

The first is actually a 40 page bulletin written by Ian R H Rocket entitled Injury and Violence: A Public Health Perspective.1 What makes it special is that a large and complex picture is portrayed well in so few pages. The book is clearly intended primarily for American readers, but the issues are viewed in an international context. And although much of the material is well known, a section addressing future directions identifies some emerging technologies like geographic information systems and the role of macroepidemiology.

One shortcoming is that the “public health perspective” touted in the title only addresses the mechanics of public health, not its spirit. There is scant evidence of the passion that has driven much of public health in the past. This is not a minor quibble. Surveillance systems are important, to be sure, but there …