Foundations for health improvement. Productive epidemiological public health research 1919-1998: W W Holland. (Pp 236; price not stated). TSO, Norwich, 2002.

For our young colleagues, the relevance of this book is justified by its reference lists alone, as these include most of the papers that provided the most important achievements of epidemiology and public health from 1919 onwards. The book is easy to consult and read, because for each calendar period the main topics are separately considered—that is, infectious diseases, occupational factors, nutrition, environment, etc. Thus, for instance, under the headings tobacco or air pollution, …