Health Promotion: Philosophy, Prejudice and Practice

Incisively written, this timely guide slices through the rhetoric of health promotion. Its penetrating analysis quickly reveals health promotion?s conceptual roots, providing an enlightening map of their web of theory and practice. David Seedhouse proves that health promotion is prejudiced ? every plan and every project stems first from human values ? and argues that it is only by acknowledging this that a mature discipline will emerge. To help speed progress the author proposes a positive, practical theory of health promotion destined to inspire anyone who wishes thoughtfully to create better health. This book is laced with entertaining dialogues, and readers are encouraged to explore ten carefully presented exercises. Educational, accessible and intelligent, Health Promotion: Philosophy, Prejudice and Practice is a seminal work which heralds the beginning of the end of health promotion?s long adolescence. It is nothing less than essential reading for all practitioners and students of health promotion. An accompanying handbook for teachers and lecturers is available, free of charge, on request.

DAVID SEEDHOUSE was born in Nottingham, England. He was educated at Carre's Grammar School, Sleaford (1967-74) and 'The Vic', Sleaford (1971-last orders). He continued this research programme at Manchester University (1977-84) and 'The Grafton', Rusholme (1977-?) where he achieved degrees in philosophy, and of memory loss.
Though captivated by good philosophical analysis and the prospect of uninterrupted lunch-time refreshment, David decided against a conventional academic career. He found most philosophy socially irrelevant (not least to fellow Graftonites) and determined to apply his philosophical skills to actual problems - not hypothetical ones.
To this end David accepted posts in health studies, nursing and medical departments. His experiences in these aggressively non-philosophical settings persuaded him to write practical philosophy books for health professionals. The real world continues to drive this writing, even after nine books for Wiley in twelve years.
David moved to Auckland in 1992 and is now a citizen of both Britain and New Zealand. He lives happily alongside the Tamaki estuary, with this wife Hilary and daughter Charlotte, and for some reason enjoys a consistently warm welcome from Ed, the local bottle-shop owner.