The Health Gap: The Challenge of an Unequal World - Softcover

"Michael Marmot's path-breaking work on the social determinants of health has made all of us rethink healthcare and social medicine. This is a lesson of tremendous practical importance to the world." --Amartya Sen

"Marmot's important study shows that--in every culture--our happiness and health are closely related to the place we occupy in the status hierarchy, and that that the key to status is our occupation." --"The Guardian on STATUS SYNDROME"

"Bubbling with findings, discreetly illuminated by the light of social justice, written considerately for ordinary readers . . . Packed with ideas that should have been coursing through public debate for years." --"The Independent on STATUS SYNDROME"

"If you want to understand why the health of people living in the United States, the richest and most powerful country in world history, lags far behind the health of people in other rich nations, then be prepared to wet your whistle here." --"The New England Journal of Medicine on THE STATUS SYNDROME"

Michael Marmot s path-breaking work on the social determinants of health has made all of us rethink healthcare and social medicine. This is a lesson of tremendous practical importance to the world. Amartya Sen

"Marmot convincingly details how socioeconomic inequities lead to health inequities . . . [He] passionately argues for people everywhere to promote a more 'just distribution of health' . . . Like a good courtroom attorney, Marmot builds a strong case and calls for action." "Booklist"

"[T]he author creates a strong case for policy changes that address human needs for autonomy, empowerment, and freedom in order to improve the well-being of people globally who are living in vulnerable and disadvantaged circumstances." "Library Journal"

"[Marmot's] research over the years has generated a catalogue of shocking headline findings, which are collected in this book to devastating effect. Page after page rams home the message that the poorer you are, the more likely you are to live a shorter, less healthy and in all likelihood less happy life . . . "The Health Gap "briskly and coherently explores why this might be the case . . . But Marmot is no doom-monger. Quite the opposite . . . this is a fundamentally optimistic book." "The Independent"

"Dr. Marmot weaves a masterful treatise on world financial and trade policy, availability of education to all people, and the robustness of infrastructure to support health status . . . To learn more about creative initiatives throughout the world that are improving conditions for human beings, buy this book, a bargain at any price." "New York Journal of Books"

"Now's the time to . . change the way we think about health. In his new book, UCL professor Michael Marmot reveals that the average person would have eight extra years of healthy life if they had the same opportunities as the richest in our society . . It's time to stop seeing health as a matter of lifestyle choice and start campaigning for justice--for all our sakes." "The Observer"

Marmot's important study shows that--in every culture--our happiness and health are closely related to the place we occupy in the status hierarchy, and that that the key to status is our occupation. "The Guardian on STATUS SYNDROME"

Bubbling with findings, discreetly illuminated by the light of social justice, written considerately for ordinary readers . . . Packed with ideas that should have been coursing through public debate for years. "The Independent on STATUS SYNDROME"

If you want to understand why the health of people living in the United States, the richest and most powerful country in world history, lags far behind the health of people in other rich nations, then be prepared to wet your whistle here. "The New England Journal of Medicine on THE STATUS SYNDROME""

"[T]he author creates a strong case for policy changes that address human needs for autonomy, empowerment, and freedom in order to improve the well-being of people globally who are living in vulnerable and disadvantaged circumstances." "Library Journal"

"Marmot convincingly details how socioeconomic inequities lead to health inequities . . . [He] passionately argues for people everywhere to promote a more 'just distribution of health' . . . Like a good courtroom attorney, Marmot builds a strong case and calls for action." "Booklist"

"Truly international . . . A plea for action to improve the health and quality of life of all people throughout the world." "The Wall Street Journal"

"[Marmot's] research over the years has generated a catalogue of shocking headline findings, which are collected in this book to devastating effect. Page after page rams home the message that the poorer you are, the more likely you are to live a shorter, less healthy and in all likelihood less happy life . . . "The Health Gap "briskly and coherently explores why this might be the case . . . But Marmot is no doom-monger. Quite the opposite . . . this is a fundamentally optimistic book." "The Independent"

"Dr. Marmot weaves a masterful treatise on world financial and trade policy, availability of education to all people, and the robustness of infrastructure to support health status . . . To learn more about creative initiatives throughout the world that are improving conditions for human beings, buy this book, a bargain at any price." "New York Journal of Books"

"Now's the time to . . change the way we think about health. In his new book, UCL professor Michael Marmot reveals that the average person would have eight extra years of healthy life if they had the same opportunities as the richest in our society . . It's time to stop seeing health as a matter of lifestyle choice and start campaigning for justice--for all our sakes." "The Observer"

"Michael Marmot s path-breaking work on the social determinants of health has made all of us rethink healthcare and social medicine. This is a lesson of tremendous practical importance to the world." Amartya Sen

"Bubbling with findings, discreetly illuminated by the light of social justice, written considerately for ordinary readers . . . Packed with ideas that should have been coursing through public debate for years." "The Independent on STATUS SYNDROME"

"If you want to understand why the health of people living in the United States, the richest and most powerful country in world history, lags far behind the health of people in other rich nations, then be prepared to wet your whistle here." "The New England Journal of Medicine on THE STATUS SYNDROME"

"Marmot s important study shows that--in every culture--our happiness and health are closely related to the place we occupy in the status hierarchy, and that that the key to status is our occupation." "The Guardian on STATUS SYNDROME""

"[T]he author creates a strong case for policy changes that address human needs for autonomy, empowerment, and freedom in order to improve the well-being of people globally who are living in vulnerable and disadvantaged circumstances." Library Journal

"Marmot convincingly details how socioeconomic inequities lead to health inequities . . . [He] passionately argues for people everywhere to promote a more 'just distribution of health' . . . Like a good courtroom attorney, Marmot builds a strong case and calls for action." Booklist

"Truly international . . . A plea for action to improve the health and quality of life of all people throughout the world." The Wall Street Journal

"[Marmot's] research over the years has generated a catalogue of shocking headline findings, which are collected in this book to devastating effect. Page after page rams home the message that the poorer you are, the more likely you are to live a shorter, less healthy and in all likelihood less happy life . . . The Health Gap briskly and coherently explores why this might be the case . . . But Marmot is no doom-monger. Quite the opposite . . . this is a fundamentally optimistic book." The Independent

"Dr. Marmot weaves a masterful treatise on world financial and trade policy, availability of education to all people, and the robustness of infrastructure to support health status . . . To learn more about creative initiatives throughout the world that are improving conditions for human beings, buy this book, a bargain at any price." New York Journal of Books

"Now's the time to . . change the way we think about health. In his new book, UCL professor Michael Marmot reveals that the average person would have eight extra years of healthy life if they had the same opportunities as the richest in our society . . It's time to stop seeing health as a matter of lifestyle choice and start campaigning for justice--for all our sakes." The Observer

"Michael Marmot s path-breaking work on the social determinants of health has made all of us rethink healthcare and social medicine. This is a lesson of tremendous practical importance to the world." Amartya Sen

"Bubbling with findings, discreetly illuminated by the light of social justice, written considerately for ordinary readers . . . Packed with ideas that should have been coursing through public debate for years." The Independent on STATUS SYNDROME

"If you want to understand why the health of people living in the United States, the richest and most powerful country in world history, lags far behind the health of people in other rich nations, then be prepared to wet your whistle here." The New England Journal of Medicine on THE STATUS SYNDROME

"Marmot s important study shows that--in every culture--our happiness and health are closely related to the place we occupy in the status hierarchy, and that that the key to status is our occupation." The Guardian on STATUS SYNDROME

"[T]he author creates a strong case for policy changes that address human needs for autonomy, empowerment, and freedom in order to improve the well-being of people globally who are living in vulnerable and disadvantaged circumstances." --Library Journal

"Marmot convincingly details how socioeconomic inequities lead to health inequities . . . [He] passionately argues for people everywhere to promote a more 'just distribution of health' . . . Like a good courtroom attorney, Marmot builds a strong case and calls for action." --Booklist

"Truly international . . . A plea for action to improve the health and quality of life of all people throughout the world." --The Wall Street Journal

"[Marmot's] research over the years has generated a catalogue of shocking headline findings, which are collected in this book to devastating effect. Page after page rams home the message that the poorer you are, the more likely you are to live a shorter, less healthy and in all likelihood less happy life . . . The Health Gap briskly and coherently explores why this might be the case . . . But Marmot is no doom-monger. Quite the opposite . . . this is a fundamentally optimistic book." --The Independent

"Dr. Marmot weaves a masterful treatise on world financial and trade policy, availability of education to all people, and the robustness of infrastructure to support health status . . . To learn more about creative initiatives throughout the world that are improving conditions for human beings, buy this book, a bargain at any price." --New York Journal of Books

"Now's the time to . . change the way we think about health. In his new book, UCL professor Michael Marmot reveals that the average person would have eight extra years of healthy life if they had the same opportunities as the richest in our society . . It's time to stop seeing health as a matter of lifestyle choice and start campaigning for justice--for all our sakes." --The Observer

"Michael Marmot's path-breaking work on the social determinants of health has made all of us rethink healthcare and social medicine. This is a lesson of tremendous practical importance to the world." --Amartya Sen

"Bubbling with findings, discreetly illuminated by the light of social justice, written considerately for ordinary readers . . . Packed with ideas that should have been coursing through public debate for years." --The Independent on STATUS SYNDROME

"If you want to understand why the health of people living in the United States, the richest and most powerful country in world history, lags far behind the health of people in other rich nations, then be prepared to wet your whistle here." --The New England Journal of Medicine on THE STATUS SYNDROME

"Marmot's important study shows that--in every culture--our happiness and health are closely related to the place we occupy in the status hierarchy, and that that the key to status is our occupation." --The Guardian on STATUS SYNDROME

There are dramatic differences in health between countries and within countries. But this is not a simple matter of rich and poor, for it depends on each society's particular social gradient. In all countries, people at relative social disadvantage suffer health disadvantage, dramatically so; the higher the social status of individuals, the better their health. Even within an individual life, changing social position directly affects health. The issue is clearly not poverty alone, but inequality.

Going against conventional approaches to improving health--which have emphasized access to technical solutions and changes in behavior--Marmot argues persuasively and passionately that the key to reducing this health inequality is empowerment; we need to create the conditions for people to have control over their lives.

Not only do we have the tools and resources materially to make this happen, we also have a moral imperative to banish an unjust and avoidable health disparity between those of high and low social status. The Health Gap is a clarion call, a compelling case for why and how we must address the societal imbalances in power, money, and resources that work against health equality.