Levy BS, Sidel VW; eds. 412 pages. New York: Oxford Univ Pr; 1997. $55.00. ISBN 0195108140. Order phone 800-451-7556.

Field of medicine: Public health.

Format: Hardcover book.

Audience: Public health students, educators, practitioners, researchers, and other concerned health professionals.

Purpose: To explicitly document the public health consequences of war, to describe the roles that public health professionals can play in preventing war and alleviating its impact, and to make the prevention of war an integral part of the global public health agenda.

Content: This text is divided into seven sections. The first describes why war is part of the public health agenda. Parts two through five describe the impact of war on public health, examining specific weapons systems, special populations, and particular military conflicts. Part six focuses on the roles of public health professionals and nongovernmental and humanitarian aid organizations in the prevention and alleviation of the consequences of war. The last section discusses the strategies and tools that the public health community can use to prevent war and its consequences.

Highlights: This book provides a plethora of useful facts about the historical and current consequences of war throughout the world. The focus on specific weapon systems and conflicts gives an in-depth view of how war affects public health. Vignettes drawn from the experiences of the many contributors add poignancy to the discussions.

Limitations: Although this book is informative and easy to read, there is some repetition among the chapters. In addition, the book has a strong tone of advocacy; this results in enlightening reading for those who agree with the book's premise but might not successfully persuade those who believe that war is a necessary evil.

Context: This is the first comprehensive examination of the relationship between war and public health. As such, it would make a wonderful addition to the curricula of schools of public health. It is also relevant for those in clinical training who may be called on to serve as medical providers in war-torn countries.

Reviewer: Arden S. Handler, DrPH, University of Illinois School of Public Health, Chicago, Illinois.

Commentary: This book draws on the experiences of many public health practitioners, educators, and researchers who have been studying, documenting, and protesting the consequences of war. The editors are internationally recognized leaders in public health and anti-war activists. They offer a new framework, the public health paradigm, as a powerful way to examine war and its consequences in the hope of promoting peace.