ecari's review against another edition
3.0
This book challenges public health professionals to think - and act - big. Farley and Cohen are focused on environmental-level and policy changes to "shift the curve" of major public health issues. They advocate for a new "healthscape" that encourages healthier living for all, instead of programs focused on those experiencing the worst health. For example, instead of funding programs and education to help overweight and obese people lose weight, impose taxes on sugary sodas or somehow increase the amount of shelf space in grocery stores devoted to fresh fruits and vegetables. In all, I found this book engaging and thought-provoking. I found the least convincing chapter to be the one about "when sex is lethal," which has as a major take-home point, the validity of promoting marriage as an effective way to reduce the total number of lifetime sex partners people have on average. But one of the appealing aspects of this book is that the authors do not shy away from the politically incorrect or unpopular ideas. We need innovation and they push for it in a well-considered and, in most cases, evidence-based (or evidence-supported) way. A good read for those in the field.
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