Here is a lists of the 21 best books for public health students and professionals in 2024.
Many books help you better understand the field of public health. Here I outline many books that cover many aspects of public health. This is not an exhaustive list, but it surely will help you get a good start to your public health reading for 2024.
Whether you are a public health student or a public health professional you’ll find value in this lists of 21 public health books you must read in 2024.
Here they are, the 21 Best Books For Public Health People.
5 Best Public Health Books to Read
Here is a list of 5 Best Public Health Books to Read.
Public health books give you great insight and information on the challenges population’s face.
These 5 public health books are for all public health people – students, professionals, and enthusiasts.
1. The Health Gap, by Michael Marmot
About: This book explores why some communities are healthier than others. It talks about how the social determinants of health – where we live, learn, work and play – affect how healthy a community and the individuals in it are. It reveals social injustice to be the greatest threat to global health as we have the tools and resources to materially improve levels of health around the world.
Why Read: If you want to learn why some communities are healthier, this book helps you understand why and how we can make communities healthier. It illuminates the dramatic differences in health that community’s face and the link to social disadvantage.
2. Medical Apartheid, by Harriet A. Washington
About: This book talks about the ‘dark history of medical experimentation on Black Americans form Colonial Times to the Present’. It highlights the shocking treatment and experimentation that happened on Black bodies since Black people were enslaved to now.
Why Read: If you want to learn more about the history of medical experimentation and historical injustices. It helps frame why Black and other marginalized communities have a strong distrust for the medical field.
[Join The Public Health Millennial Community Waitlist]
3. The Political Determinants of Health, by Daniel Dawes
About: This book talks about the political drivers that lead to health inequities and systemic injustices around health. It highlights how fundamental political systems are in shaping the health of communities through the policies enacted.
Why Read: If you want to learn how politics and policy influence social determinants of health and generate health outcomes. It shares how the political system is foundational to the social drivers communities face.
Buy The Political Determinants of Health
4. The China Study, by Thomas Campbell and T. Campbell II
About: This book is the most comprehensive study of nutrition ever conducted and the startling implications for diet, weight loss, and long term health. It highlights the link between diet and the risk of developing disease.
Why Read: If you want to learn more about how food and our diets impact our health and longevity. If you want to dispel many health myths and misinformation.
5. The Color of Law, by Richard Rothstein
About: This book is about the forgotten history of how our government segregated America. It offers a strong argument for how segregation was created and reinforced by the US government – at all levels.
Why Read: If you want to learn about how governments can have a fundamental impact on creating and upholding inequitable systems. It highlights how the American government deliberately created racial segregation and the impact these policies have on communities today.
5 Best Books for Public Health Students
5 Best Books for Public Health Students to read.
Delve into a better understanding for a student seeking insightful perspectives.
This curated list promises to be a valuable companion on your academic journey. From foundational principles to contemporary issues, these books offer a holistic approach to the diverse facets of public health.
1. 101+ Careers in Public Health, by Beth Seltzer & Heather Krasna
About: This book explores the broad landscape of public health careers. It acts as a career guide for public health students, professionals, and those trying to transition into public health. It offers traditional and non-traditional public health career profiles with comprehensive advise and practical tips.
Why Read: If you want to dive deep into understanding the broad public health landscape, this book is a great start. It offers a wide range of public health careers while also sharing important competencies and detailed job descriptions for each titled role.
Buy 101+ Careers in Public Health
2. Deep Work, by Cal Newport
About: This book explores ‘rules for focused success in a distracted world’. It digs into how you can tap into deep focused work in this distracted world to accomplish more of what you plan to.
Why Read: If you want to harness the power of deep focus to get more of what matters done, this is the perfect book for you. You’ll learn how to focus without distractions on demanding task.
3. The Obstacle Is The Way, by Ryan Holiday
About: This book shares ‘the timeless art of turning trials into triumph’. It explores how the obstacles in your life are actually the opportunities for you to get to personal and professional success.
Why Read: If you want to learn how to turn your problems in life into opportunities for growth and success, check this book out. Whether struggling with classes or personal obstacles, this book gives you a frame to move forward confidently.
4. I Will Teach You To Be Rich, by Ramit Sethi
About: This book explores a unique take on what living your rich life looks like. It shares stories and practical tips to master your money and live the life that you want. Instead of only focusing on savings, this book highlights the importance of knowing how to spend money too.
Why Read: If you want to get better with your finances and live more of the life you want, this book is for you. This book is ideal for anyone trying to crush debt, save more money, spend money, negotiate your salary, buying big items, and so much more.
Buy I Will Teach You To Be Rich
5. Never Split The Difference, by Chris Voss
About: This book explores ‘negotiating as if your life depended on it’. A former international hostage negotiator shares news field tested approach to negotiations – whether in your home or at the boardroom.
Why Read: If you want to learn top tier negotiating principles and skills, this book is for you. Learn the nine effective principles to become more persuasive in both your professional and personal life.
Buy Never Split The Difference
5 Books for Your 2024 Public Health Booklist
Here is a curated list of “5 Books for your 2024 Public Health Booklist.”
Designed to meet the evolving needs of public health enthusiasts in the current landscape, these books encapsulate the latest insights, trends, and perspectives in the field.
Whether you’re a student, professional, or curious individual, this thoughtfully compiled list offers a diverse range of reads to keep you informed and inspired.
Dive into this contemporary booklist and stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of public health.
1. Carte Blanche, by Harriet A. Washington
About: This book explores the ‘erosion of medical consent.’ It is the alarming story of how Americans are losing the right to say ‘no’ to medical research. It highlights the medical exploitation that happens to US troops, patients, marginalized population, inmates, and the disabled.
Why Read: If you want a thought provoking read on what it means to give medical consent and how that right is being breached in our society today. This thought provoking and enlightening book helps to better understand the importance of consent in the modern world.
2. Biased, by Dr. Jennifer Eberhardt
About: This book is about ‘Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do.’ It uncovers racial bias that occur at all levels of our society – neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, etc – while also providing tools to address the bias she uncovers.
Why Read: If you want to learn how to better speak about bias, racial disparities & inequities and how it plays into our daily lives, this is the book for you. It helps us to better understand how we can address racial biases and other biases in our work as public health professionals.
3. The Sum of Us, by Heather McGhee
About: This book is about ‘what racism costs everyone and how we can prosper together.’ It explores the author’s journey across the USA to discover what we lose when we take on a zero-sum lens in viewing progress for specific racial groups.
Why Read: If you want to better understand the USA’s racial divide and how we can overcome it. It highlights what we all lose as citizens when there are directed attacks at Black people in the USA. It’ll teach you why we should view progress for the racial groups as progress for all people.
4. Poverty, by America, by Matthew Desmond
About: This book explores why in the richest country in the world there is still so much poverty. It also highlights tangible solutions that can be used to close these poverty gaps in the US. It gives us a new framework for thinking about solutions to this “morally urgent” problem.
Why Read: If you want to learn how systems, policies, and structures have created so much poverty in the USA. It’ll help you understand the importance of being a poverty abolitionists and how we all have a piece to play in addressing the stark poverty in America.
5. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot
About: This book is about the decade-plus long story to uncover Henrietta Lacks and investigating her immortal HeLa cell line. It explores the story of Henrietta Lacks, her family, and how her cells were stolen and then used without her family knowledge to make remarkable scientific discoveries.
Why Read: If you want to learn more about the fascinating and disheartening story of how the immortal HeLa cells were birth. You’ll gain insight into how the medical field has treated marginalized communities and why it’s important that communities have the power to advocate for themselves.
Buy The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
5 Unconventional Books for Public Health People
Here are 5 Unconventional Books that all public health people should read.
It will help redefine your perspective on public health.
Whether you’re a student, professional, or enthusiast, these books promise an unconventional yet enriching journey that will broaden your horizons and spark innovative ideas in the realm of public health.
Get ready to embark on an intellectual adventure like never before.
1. Contagious, by Jonah Berger
About: This book is about “why things catch on.” It talks about what are the important factors of what causes social epidemics. It explores how to catch attention of large amounts of people and gives an actionable framework to work with.
Why Read: If you are looking to understand how we can better market public health and health education initiatives. This book highlights the mistakes we make in marketing products or ideas and how we can better position ourselves for success.
2. Stillness Is The Key, by Ryan Holiday
About: This book shares about ‘an ancient strategy for modern life.’ It explores how important stillness is, as well as why and how to cultivate it in our world today.
Why Read: Read this if you want practical wisdom that you can apply to your own life to be more still. It will help you to approach your life – personal and professional – from a lens of being more focused on your inner stillness.
3. Utopia for Realists, by Rutger Bregman
About: This book explores “how we can build an ideal world.” It gives ideas for what a more utopian future could look like through sharing “unrealistic and radical approaches that are not commonplace.
Why Read: If you want to challenge your mind on ideas on building a better world. It shares fascinating stories like a Canadian city that eradicated poverty to Richard Nixon’s failed attempt at Universal Basic Income.
4. How The Word Is Passed, by Clint Smith
About: This book explores “a reckoning with the history of slavery across America.” It digs into how history and memory continue to shape our everyday lives as Americans.
Why Read: Read if you want to better understand how the history of slavery plays in our narrative of the world around us. It highlights how the effects of slavery are still alive and strong in today’s world in America.
4 Books All Public Health Entrepreneurs Should Read
A curated list of 4 books all public health entrepreneurs should read in 2024.
This is tailored for visionary minds in the realm of public health entrepreneurship. Whether you’re charting your entrepreneurial path or aiming to innovate within the public health sector, these handpicked books are your guide to success.
Dive into this thoughtfully chosen collection and let the knowledge within these pages empower you on your journey to making a positive impact as a public health entrepreneur.
1. Never Split The Difference, by Chris Voss
About: This book explores ‘negotiating as if your life depended on it’. A former international hostage negotiator shares news field tested approach to negotiations – whether in your home or at the boardroom.
Why Read: If you want to learn top tier negotiating principles and skills, this book is for you. Learn the nine effective principles to become more persuasive in both your professional and personal life.
Buy Never Split The Difference
2. Who Not How, by Dan Sullivan
About: This book is about “The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork.” It explores the mindset shift you can make to open your entrepreneurship endeavor to explosive growth.
Why Read: If you are interested in understanding the importance of why delegating work out as an entrepreneur is important in growing your business. It will give you useful advice so that you can focus on what you are great at while you bring others on to focus on what they are great at in your business.
3. Essentialism, by Greg McKeown
About: This books is about “the disciplined pursuit of less.” It explores the simple – but hard to implement – process of choosing the vital few things that are most important for your life.
Why Read: Read if you need to better understand when to say ‘no’ to the trivial many things that pull at our lives. And learn how to choose to say hell yes to the few things that are most important for your life goals.
4. The Go-Giver, by Bob Burg and John David Mann
About: This books is about ‘a little story about a powerful business idea.’ It explores the business case for giving so that you can receive in return. It gives a relatable road to success that many entrepreneurs can follow.
Why Read: If you want to learn why you should continue to put value into others lives for your own success. It shares lessons that you can implement into your life to become more successful by serving others through giving.
Summary
This comprehensive list of public health books is guaranteed to expand your knowledge, and help you in your public health career journey.
Whether you want to learn more about public health, are a public health student, or a professional – choose a few books from this list to read. You will not regret it.
- 5 Best Public Health Books to Read
- 5 Best Books for Public Health Students
- 5 Books for your 2024 public health booklist
- 4 Unconventional books for public health people
- 4 Books all public health entrepreneurs should read
These 21 public health books are a great read.
