Incisively written, this timely guide slices through the rhetoric of health promotion. Its penetrating analysis quickly reveals health promotion's conceptual roots, providing an enlightening map of their web of theory and practice. David Seedhouse proves that health promotion is prejudiced - every plan and every project stems first from human values - and argues that It is only by acknowledging this that a mature discipline will emerge. To help speed progress the author proposes a positive, practical theory of health promotion destined to inspire anyone who wishes thoughtfully to create better health. This book is laced with entertaining dialogues, and readers are encouraged to explore ten carefully presented exercises. Educational, accessible and intelligent, Health Promotion: Philosophy, Prejudice and Practice is a seminal work which heralds the beginning of the end of health promotion's long adolescence. It is nothing less than essential reading for all practitioners and students of health promotion. An accompanying handbook for teachers and lecturers is available, free of charge, on request.