In keeping with its title, this introductory book is broad in scope. The strength of Introduction to public health lies in part in its structure and layout. Each chapter begins with learning objectives and ends with reflections pulling the chapter themes together. The language is suitable to an undergraduate readership and the use of Australian examples and contexts brings to life abstract concepts.

One chapter is dedicated to ethics and values, elsewhere revisited in consideration of “the evidence base” — a refreshing ingredient. Nevertheless, some chapters are dry, lacking logical flow from one subsection to the next and using different terminology to refer to the same constructs. At times, there seems to be reliance on limited and secondary sources rather than primary sources, a poor example and one that compromises accuracy. The review questions at the end of each chapter are a good idea (although the answers are not given, a downside for student revision).

The authors introduce dichotomies in relation to several constructs: “health services” are distanced from public health; much of the material presumes an old “left–right” political dichotomy, and although physical, environmental, social and emotional determinants of health all receive attention, biology and biological risk factors are under-represented.

The chapter on epidemiology — the core science of public health — is disappointing. Graduates should be able to interpret and critically read epidemiological information contained in reports (eg, from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare). This requires an understanding of demography, epidemiological information sources and an appreciation of methods such as age adjustment. Although the chapter places emphasis on study design and different biases, which are important, students need first to have an understanding of basic epidemiological concepts and measures that are routinely used in public health practice.

Dissatisfactions aside, as a first edition this textbook is welcome. There has long been a need for an offering that is introductory in context, current and Australian.