Second Opinion: an introduction to health sociology. 3rd edition.(Book review)

Second Opinion: an introduction to health sociology. 3rd edition South Melbourne: Oxford University Press. 2005. ISBN 019551745 Germov, John (Ed)

The third edition of this widely-used text updates and extends earlier editions. Essentially, this new edition of Second Opinion repeats the formula of earlier editions, and, like earlier editions, it provides an extremely useful introductory text, and primary reference source for undergraduate students, particularly at the first year level. Only Chapter 7 on 'food and nutrition' is new but all chapters have been updated where necessary to include more recent, relevant evidence and reference materials, and some have undergone minor revision (for example, Roach Anleu's chapter on the medicalisation of deviance). All contributions come from recognised specialists and researchers in particular fields of health sociology. The framework for the text as a whole is 'the social model of health', and the volume of papers is organised around three central themes that Germov asserts underpin this model: the social production and distribution of …