Places public health in its historical context, and analyses how the changing face of public health is essential to understanding its contemporary concerns Discusses the demographic, institutional, scientific, political, and professional influences, which have shaped views about the health of the public Considers the differences in approaches to public health across the globe, from biosecurity and the defence of the nation against terrorist attack in the US, to health promoting, and 'well-being' aspects of health in the UK Part of the Very Short Introductions series - over seven million copies sold worldwide