"Voices in Medical Sociology: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives" is a reader for students of health care. The collection of articles written by sociologists, health care providers, public health professionals, lawyers, and students addresses the most salient issues in the field of medical sociology today. These readings cover epidemiology, maternal health, children's health, legal aspects of health care reform, and the lack of health care for incarcerated women. Additionally, the book addresses controversial topics such as fracking, female genital mutilation, alternative medicine, and the social construction of illness. This material familiarizes students with long-standing concerns in the field of health care, and also exposes them to new issues that are relevant today. "Voices in Medical Sociology" is an interdisciplinary text that provides important information for students without relying on the standard textbook form. Rather, it makes use of diverse materials including legal cases, personal memoirs, and book reviews. It also includes previously published and new articles. The variety of the original writings and the different voices of the writers serve to discuss and define the many diverse aspects of contemporary health care. Cynthia T. Cook earned her Master's Degree in Sociology from the University of Chicago, and her Ph.D. from Texas Woman's University. Currently she is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice at Florida A & M University, where she teaches medical sociology and population problems. Her area of specialization is medical sociology, demography, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Women's Studies with a concentration on global and domestic health disparities. She is co-editor of "Cultural Proficiency in Addressing Health Disparities," "Voices in Sociology: an Introduction to Core Concepts," and the GRIOT (the official newsletter of the Association of Black Sociologists). Dr. Cook has published articles in the "Journal of the National Medical Association," "Program Planning and Evaluation," "Law and Medicine," and the "Journal of Black Studies."

"Voices in Sociology" introduces undergraduate students to articles that deal with conventional and non-conventional issues in sociology. Selections in this anthology, some of which have not appeared in previous readers, are each preceded by an introduction to the basic sociological concepts and theories discussed within the article. Students will find the selected articles informative and applicable to real world concerns, while instructors will find that the book offers ample opportunities for class discussion. This book can be used as the sole textbook or as a supplement to one. The brevity and focus of "Voices in Sociology" makes it an ideal and unique addition to any Introduction to Sociology course. The readings in "Voices in Sociology" cover a wide range of topics in sociology, including: History of Sociology; Women's Perspective as a Radical Critique of Sociology; How Sociologists Do Research; Culture; Socialization; Deviant Behavior; Gender Roles; and Social Stratification: Social Class. Cynthia T. Cook earned her Master's Degree in Sociology from the University of Chicago, and her Ph.D. from Texas Woman's University. Currently she is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice at Florida A & M University, where she teaches medical sociology and population problems. Her area of specialization is medical sociology, demography, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Women s Studies with a concentration on global and domestic health disparities. She is co-editor of "Cultural Proficiency in Addressing Health Disparities, Voices in Sociology: an Introduction to Core Concepts," and the GRIOT (the official newsletter of the Association of Black Sociologists). Dr. Cook has published articles in the "Journal of the National Medical Association, Program Planning and Evaluation, Law and Medicine," and the "Journal of Black Studies." Professor Amitra A. Hodge-Wall, a graduate of Texas Woman's University, is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Buffalo State College. She is an applied sociologist who is often found working alongside community organizations. Most of her energies are spent on addressing issues that impact women, children, and other minority groups. In the classroom she embraces the orientation that encourages and empowers students to be active participants in society. She teaches social statistics, introduction to sociology, internship, social thought, research methods, race and ethnic relations, and women in society. Her research interest includes the examination of stratification in higher education. Dr. Brethauer-Gay is an Assistant Professor at Florida A & M University in Tallahassee, FL. She received her Ph.D. in Sociology at Texas Woman's University in Denton, Texas and her M. A. from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. Her research interests, though varied, tend to focus on the influence of social structures on individuals. Dr. Jessica Smartt Gullion is Assistant Visiting Professor of Sociology at Texas Woman's University, where she specializes in medical and environmental sociology. She has published more than 20 peer-reviewed articles and abstracts on epidemiology, infectious disease, and disaster response. Dr. Gullion teaches courses on the sociology of health and illness and qualitative research methods. Her Introduction to Sociology course takes a global approach to exploring sociological issues."

Featuring memorable, first-person accounts of mentally ill individuals, Voices from the Inside: Readings on the Experiences of Mental Illness allows students to connect directly with real-life "experts" who know mental illness all too intimately. This unique anthology addresses a variety of central topics surrounding mental illness, including suicide, hospitalization, the meanings of medication, the experiences of caregivers, and the stigma attached to mental illness. Each section opens with a "sensitizing" introduction.

This text introduces students to a range of topics and perspectives in medical sociology. These include lay v. expert care, health and the environment, and bioethics. The selections highlight the diversity of intellectual discourse in the field and elicit critical thinking, applications of theory, and lively discussion.

This book offers accounts of scholarly interdisciplinary practices and perspectives that examine and discuss the positive potential of attending to the voices and stories of those who live and work with illness in real world settings.