Pocket Guide to Health Promotion

Book Review

Abstract

The Pocket Guide to Health Promotion by Glenn Laverack is a book that has been written for the practitioner and undergraduate student market. The combination of communicating complex concepts in easy-to-understand ways and the use of international case studies to contextualise theory makes this a very attractive text. The book is expertly written by one of the leading commentators in the field and, reflecting the author’s expertise, the book is particularly strong on international issues; community-based health promotion; policy and health activism; and empowerment. While The Pocket Guide to Health Promotion is very comprehensive, it does stop short of discussing some issues – the book, for example, does not discuss behaviour change and social marketing in detail. However, the book remains a must have for practitioners and for undergraduate students studying courses with a health promotion element.