This reader provides a comprehensive collection of both classic writings and contemporary articles in the sociology of health and illness. It is organized into the following sections: * Health beliefs and knowledge* Inequalities and patterning of health and illness* Professional and patient interaction* Chronic illness and disability * Evaluation and politics in health care Each section has an introduction, summarizing the content and argument of each article in turn. The reader also has a general introduction which sets the scene for the field as a whole, contextualizes each section and provides a guide to additional reading. The reader includes a number of different perspectives on health and illness, is international in scope, and will provide an invaluable resource to students across a wide range of courses in sociology and the social sciences.