Here is a clear, wide-ranging introduction to the worldwide state of human health. Starting with a brief history of modern medical progress, Shereen Usdin then untangles the knot created by poverty and globalization to show that where you live, how wealthy you are, and your gender all have a bearing on the diseases you may encounter in your lifetime—and your prospects for prevention, treatment, and ultimately, survival.

Pulling no punches, Usdin also blows the whistle on the political economy of illness and how keeping people sick means more money for the pharmaceutical, tobacco, and food industries. This No-Nonsense Guide is a must-read for anyone who wants a clear sense of how healthy our global family really is.

Foreword by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu Introduction Chapter 1 No ‘Health for All’ by 21st century Chapter 2 Globalization: the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune Chapter 3 The politics of patents Chapter 4 The politics of gender Chapter 5 The emergence of old and new epidemics Chapter 6 Non-communicable ‘pandemics’: the high price of Big Business Chapter 7 The big fix Resources and contacts Index