One of the best ways to learn more about public health is to read. Many of us spend most of our time indoors, so we usually turn to movies and television shows for entertainment. But after a few scary pandemic movies and Netflix series, we find ourselves craving a good book for both education and entertainment. The growing awareness of health issues has also led to an interest in history, and we want to learn about inspiring people and how their lives have influenced public health.
In the Summer of Public Health, the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health has compiled a list of books that are recommended to students interested in public health. Some of the titles on the list include The Rise and Fall of American Growth by Robert Gordon, which examines the U.S.’s rise and fall since the Civil War. Another book on the list, Pacific by Simon Winchester, focuses on the history of the world’s largest ocean, and why its future is so important.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is an extremely good book to read about the subject of public health. Although this isn’t technically a book about public health, it focuses on issues of race and poverty. It tells the story of a woman named Henrietta Lacks, who died of cervical cancer, and her best friend and sister were taken from her body without her consent. Her samples later became the HeLa cell line, which has been instrumental in the development of polio vaccines, AIDS treatments, and much more.
