The Oxford Textbook of Public Health 4e is unique in its presentation of the breadth and depth of the complex, dynamic field of public health. To accomplish this goal the textbook is divided into three volumes. The first volume presents the scope of public health, the second presents the methodologies and strategies and the third presents the practice of public health. This forth edition has updated the many changes which have occurred in the field since the third edition was published, has expanded the scope to include issues of developing countries and presents the perspective of public leaders including the Director General of the World Health Organisation on stategies to resolve these existing and anticipated public health problems. The textbook tackles such difficult issues as how to prioritize disparate public health problems, how to identify and implement cost effective strategies, the need for mobilizing the community through community involvement and the need for a comprehensive rather than an issue/disease oriented approach for the resolution of public health problems. The Oxford Textbook of Public Health is a comprehensive reference source for postgraduate students in public health, and provides insights into public health for those not primarily in public health but who need access to its expertise. The book is intended as a reference volume for use by public health professionals and academics. It should be included in every comprehensive library serving the health field and be on the shelf of every public health practitioner. From the recommendation of the 3e: 'As with most textbooks it is the 'how' rather than the 'what' in the Oxford Textbook of Public Health that has, I believe, the greatest lasting value. The three-volume set presents discussions by many formidable authorities from the developed world, discussions that were written to be read.' BCharles Guest,National centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Canberra, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health From reviews of the 2e '..... (provides) a coherent, consistent thread. The chapters are easy to read, and clearly written with authority. The textbook is an essential part of any comprehensive public health library. Journal of Public Health Medicine Any attempt to be comprehensive on such a global scale is a major challenge. The editors have none the less succeeded in their most difficult objective, that of providing a coherent, consistent thread. The chapters are easy to read, and clearly written with authority. Each has a good bibliography. The textbook is an essential part of any comprehensive public health library. Richard J Madeley, Nottingham University, Journal of Public Health Medicine `the book has a place in all academic departments, not only in the specialty of public health but beyond it, in mainstream clinical departments of medicine, pediatrics, etc. Certainly it ought to be in all medical libraries worthy of the name. It is a superb collection of essays on many, indeed most, topics in public health.' John Last, University of Ottawa, Journals of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, No. 3, No. 5, August 1997