The Development of Modern Epidemiology: Personal reports from those who were there - Tapa dura

This is a fascinating book, very well worth a read in sections if not in its entirety. (International Journal of Epidemiology, 37)

...this book is in its own way a unique contribution to the history, or better yet, to the sociology of epidemiology...within the chapters, historians and sociologists wtih find plenty of material to work with, while epidemiologists may discover the breadth of their discipline. (Preventative Medicine)

So many of the key figures came to epidemiology because they wanted to improve health in society...I am in awe of these pioneers...[they] cannot have had it easy, yet they focus on getting the job done rather than dwelling on their critics. (The Lancet)

...an excellent sourcebook for the teacher [or]...the more thoughtful student willing to take the long view. (Bulletin of the Royal College of Pathologists)

If an epidemiologist would like to be a wise one, in particular for young epidemiologists, this book is essential. (Journal of Epidemiology, Vol. 17, No. 4,)

This book needs to be in every academic library and on every scholar's shelf. It is a unique contribution [to a field] only discussed in isolated chapters of domain-specific books... this is a great summary of the field... the number and quality of authors is outstanding... this book has no equal. (Doody's Notes)

[The book] takes us, by clear steps, through the whole concept of what epidemiology is and what it has achieved, and what it can achieve... and as a whole it provides a detailed description of where epidemiology has got to now in 2007, and will serve as a guide to those now starting or already in the field, and a milestone for those who come after us and want to see what it was all about. (Professor John Pemberton, Co-Founder of the International Epidemiological Association (IEA))

This book marks the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the International Epidemiological Association (IEA). It is a unique compendium by the world's leading epidemiologists of how the field has developed, and how it can be (and has been) applied to the control of common conditions and threats to public health. Five distinct sections guide the reader through the wealth of material:

· Gives an historical account of the concepts and ideas, and current importance of epidemiology to global health issues and to organisations such as the WHO.
· Illustrates the advances and contributions to epidemiologic knowledge and the control of disease in specific areas such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, tuberculosis, maternal and child health, non-biologic disorders such as war and disasters, and new infectious diseases.
· Outlines the use of epidemiology in areas such as public health, health services, occupational and environmental medicine, social epidemiology and nutrition.
· Discusses methodological developments such as statistics, information sources, investigation of disease outbreaks and clinical epidemiology.
· Looks at how the subject has developed internationally, with perspectives on regions such as the Americas, Poland, Spain, Eastern Mediterranean, New Zealand, China, Thailand and Japan.

This remarkable insight into how epidemiology has developed is essential reading for both existing and aspiring epidemiologists.