7 New Public Health Books Reshaping the Field in 2025

Discover 7 new Public Health Books authored by leading experts including Natalie Sampson PhD MPH and Lindsay Tallon PhD MSPH CPH, offering cutting-edge insights for 2025.

Updated on June 27, 2025
We may earn commissions for purchases made via this page

The Public Health landscape changed dramatically in 2024, driven by evolving environmental challenges, technological advances, and the long shadow of recent pandemics. In 2025, staying informed means engaging with fresh perspectives that capture these shifts. These seven new Public Health books provide a window into the latest thinking on environmental justice, community health roles, informatics, and the social fabric of health care.

Authored by seasoned professionals and scholars such as Natalie Sampson PhD MPH and Lindsay Tallon PhD MSPH CPH, this collection reflects expertise grounded in real-world practice and research. These books are rich with case studies, policy analyses, and narratives that deepen understanding of complex public health issues, from grassroots community work to high-level leadership and data science.

While these cutting-edge books provide the latest insights, readers seeking the newest content tailored to their specific Public Health goals might consider creating a personalized Public Health book that builds on these emerging trends. This approach can help you focus on your unique interests and stay ahead in a rapidly changing field.

Best for environmental health advocates
Environmental Health: Foundations for Public Health stands out by weaving together diverse perspectives on today’s critical public health challenges. It emphasizes how environmental factors and social determinants like structural racism shape health outcomes. The book introduces foundational concepts alongside emerging topics such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), supported by real-world case studies and companion podcast resources. Designed for advanced students and practitioners, it offers a comprehensive framework to understand and address environmental health issues at local and global levels, making it a valuable guide for those preparing to engage with complex public health environments.
Environmental Health: Foundations for Public Health book cover

by Natalie Sampson PhD MPH, Lindsay Tallon PhD MSPH CPH, Natasha DeJarnett PhD MPH BCES·You?

2024·530 pages·Public Health, Health, Environmental Health, Environmental Justice, Climate Change

Drawing from their extensive public health expertise, Natalie Sampson, Lindsay Tallon, and Natasha DeJarnett offer a thorough exploration of environmental health that goes beyond the basics. You’ll gain a solid grasp of how environmental factors like climate change, air and water quality, and toxic substances intersect with social justice issues, especially structural racism. The book’s chapters detail regulatory science and policies shaping environmental protections, while case studies illuminate persistent inequities and community-level solutions. Whether you’re a student or professional aiming to understand environmental health’s role in public health systems, this text equips you with the knowledge to engage critically and advocate effectively.

View on Amazon
Best for certification exam candidates
This exam review guide stands out in public health for its direct alignment with the latest National Board of Public Health Examiner job task analysis, reflecting urgent changes triggered by recent global health challenges. The book offers a structured approach to mastering the updated domains and competencies that define today’s public health practice. Designed by University of South Florida faculty deeply embedded in the field, it supports certification candidates in navigating the evolving landscape with confidence. Its clear framework and inclusion of sample exam questions make it a focused resource for those serious about advancing their professional credentials.
Certified in Public Health: Exam Review Guide, 2nd edition book cover

by Karen D. Liller, Jaime A. Corvin, MPH Madison G. Moua ·You?

2024·340 pages·Public Health, Certification Preparation, Job Task Analysis, Exam Strategies, Competency Domains

After analyzing the recent shifts in public health influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, Karen D. Liller and her co-authors developed this exam review guide to reflect the updated competencies required in the profession. You’ll find focused chapters built around the National Board of Public Health Examiner’s revised job task analysis, complete with checkboxes for tracking your mastery and sample questions that mirror the actual exam format. This book walks you through the critical knowledge areas and practical tasks you need to succeed, making it especially useful if you're preparing for certification and aiming to understand the evolving demands of public health practice. It’s a straightforward tool for those committed to advancing their expertise, though not designed for casual readers or broad public health theory.

View on Amazon
Best for rapid knowledge updates
This AI-created book on public health is crafted based on your specific interests and goals for 2025. You share your background and which emerging topics you want to explore, and this book focuses precisely on those areas. Personalizing your learning this way makes navigating rapid developments more manageable and relevant, helping you stay informed about what truly matters to you.
2025·50-300 pages·Public Health, Health Innovation, Epidemiology Trends, Environmental Justice, Health Policy

This tailored book explores the groundbreaking developments transforming public health in 2025, offering a focused journey through the latest discoveries and emerging research. It examines how new scientific insights, technological advances, and evolving policies are reshaping health outcomes and equity. By concentrating on your unique interests and background, this personalized guide illuminates topics such as environmental justice, health informatics, community health innovations, and pandemic response evolution. Readers engage deeply with subjects that matter most to them, making complex, fast-moving changes accessible and relevant. This approach enriches your understanding by aligning with your goals and providing a custom exploration of cutting-edge knowledge that keeps you at the forefront of public health advancements.

Tailored Content
Emerging Research Insights
3,000+ Books Created
Best for narrative medicine enthusiasts
What makes "Telltale Hearts" unique in public health is its profound focus on the power of patient stories to transform care and policy. Dean-David Schillinger MD draws on decades of experience in a busy public hospital to reveal how listening closely to patients uncovers truths that tests alone cannot. This book offers a fresh perspective on the intersection of storytelling and medicine, highlighting the human side of public health challenges. It’s a timely call for reshaping health systems around empathy and narrative, benefiting clinicians, policymakers, and advocates alike.
2024·368 pages·Public Health, Doctor-Patient Relations, Narrative Medicine, Patient Communication, Health Policy

While working as a public health physician at one of the nation’s busiest hospitals, Dean-David Schillinger MD realized that medical technology alone often falls short of healing. In "Telltale Hearts," he explores how deeply listening to patients’ stories reveals vital details that clinical tests miss, influencing diagnosis and treatment. Through poignant anecdotes spanning decades, Schillinger shows how narrative medicine connects individual experiences with broader public health challenges, urging a more empathetic approach. You’ll find insights on patient communication, the social determinants of health, and how storytelling can shape policy—essential for anyone engaged in healthcare or health advocacy.

View on Amazon
Best for community health practitioners
Foundations for Community Health Workers stands out for its focus on the evolving demands in public health, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical role of community health workers. This guide emphasizes not only professional skills but also principles like social justice and cultural humility, offering a framework that prepares you to meet diverse community needs. Through detailed case studies and practical advice on conflict resolution, group facilitation, and trauma support, the book serves as a vital resource for anyone aiming to build confidence and competence in community health roles.
Foundations for Community Health Workers (Jossey-Bass Public Health) book cover

by Timothy Berthold, Darouny Somsanith·You?

2024·768 pages·Public Health, Health, Community Advocacy, Conflict Resolution, Group Facilitation

When you dive into Foundations for Community Health Workers, you encounter a thorough guide shaped by the urgent needs revealed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Timothy Berthold and Darouny Somsanith focus on equipping community health workers with essential skills like conflict resolution, group facilitation, and trauma support, all grounded in social justice and cultural humility. The book doesn’t just teach theory—it offers real-life case studies that convey the daily realities and challenges faced by workers in the field. If you're preparing to enter or deepen your role in community health, this book lays out practical tools and insights to help you engage confidently and compassionately with diverse populations.

View on Amazon
Best for public health leadership historians
Pandemics, Politics, & Public Health stands out by tracing the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps through decades of change, providing a rare look at institutional endurance and evolution within public health. It highlights the significant roles played by Surgeons General and the officers behind them, offering a narrative framed by leadership and service. This book benefits those engaged in public health by offering context on organizational challenges and successes that continue to influence the field today. Its approach, interweaving official history with personal experiences, deepens understanding of public health’s complex and often demanding environment.
Pandemics, Politics, & Public Health book cover

by James E Knoben, Boris D Lushniak·You?

2024·408 pages·Public Health, Health Policy, Epidemiology, Leadership, Health Services

Drawing from years of meticulous research into the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, James E Knoben and Boris D Lushniak offer a detailed chronicle that goes beyond simple history. You gain insight into the evolving role of the Corps and its officers, understanding how their resilience and teamwork shaped public health responses over decades. Each chapter anchors on different Surgeons General, shedding light on leadership challenges and institutional strategies. The inclusion of personal accounts from officers brings a human dimension to the complex operations of public health. This book suits anyone wanting a grounded grasp of public health leadership intertwined with historical context, rather than a broad overview of health policies.

View on Amazon
Best for custom future plans
This AI-created book on public health is designed based on your unique background and goals. You share which future challenges and trends interest you most, and this book focuses specifically on those areas, helping you stay ahead of evolving public health developments. By tailoring the content to your skill level and interests, it offers a more engaging and relevant learning experience than generic resources. This custom approach ensures you gain insights that truly matter to your work or study.
2025·50-300 pages·Public Health, Emerging Trends, Research Updates, Health Challenges, Policy Analysis

This personalized book delves into the evolving landscape of public health as it prepares for future challenges. It explores emerging research and developments expected by 2025, revealing insights tailored to your interests and background. By focusing on recent discoveries and the latest scientific progress, the book examines how public health can adapt to new threats and opportunities. It offers a unique learning experience by tailoring content to address your specific goals, ensuring you engage deeply with the areas most relevant to your work or study. This tailored approach fosters a nuanced understanding of upcoming public health dynamics and equips you to anticipate and respond to change effectively.

Tailored Content
Emerging Insights
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for population health nurses
Marcia Stanhope and Jeanette Lancaster’s Public Health Nursing: Population-Centered Health Care in the Community uniquely integrates the latest public health developments with nursing practice. Updated to reflect current trends—such as the COVID-19 pandemic and Healthy People 2030 objectives—it offers a structured approach through features like the Intervention Wheel and nurse-led health centers. This edition serves nursing students and professionals aiming to deepen their understanding of how nursing impacts community health at multiple prevention levels. Its clear focus on applying knowledge through case studies and clinical judgment activities makes it an essential text for those invested in advancing public health nursing.
Public Health Nursing: Population-Centered Health Care in the Community book cover

by Marcia Stanhope PhD RN FAAN, Jeanette Lancaster PhD RN FAAN·You?

2024·944 pages·Public Health, Health, Community Nursing, Population Health, Health Promotion

Marcia Stanhope and Jeanette Lancaster, both distinguished nurses and scholars, bring decades of combined expertise to this comprehensive text on public health nursing. You’ll explore how nursing intersects with community health, from managing infectious diseases to addressing natural disasters, with fresh insights tailored to today’s challenges like COVID-19. The book guides you through practical applications such as the Intervention Wheel and nurse-led health centers, helping you understand the nurse's pivotal role across prevention levels. If you’re involved in nursing education or practice focused on population health, this book offers clear frameworks and real-world scenarios that sharpen your clinical judgment and policy understanding.

Selected for Doody’s Core Titles® 2024 in Community Health
View on Amazon
Best for health data technology experts
Philip De Melo’s "Public Health Informatics and Technology" addresses the evolving intersection of IT and public health, spotlighting how innovative technologies like AI and data analytics are transforming disease prevention and outbreak management. This book is ideal for professionals seeking to navigate the complex, multidisciplinary landscape of public health data management and respond proactively to emerging health threats. It offers a framework for collaboration among computer scientists, epidemiologists, and informaticians, emphasizing practical applications that safeguard communities and economies.
2024·416 pages·Health Informatics, Public Health, Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Disease Prevention

Drawing from his expertise in public health and technology, Philip De Melo presents a thorough examination of how information technology and computer science shape modern public health practices. You’ll explore how data analytics and artificial intelligence are applied to real-world challenges, from disease surveillance to outbreak response. The book clarifies the distinction between clinical and public health informatics, emphasizing collaborative efforts among multidisciplinary teams to improve population health. For anyone involved in managing or analyzing public health data, this book offers insights on integrating advanced technologies to enhance decision-making and preparedness against emerging health threats.

View on Amazon

Stay Ahead: Get Your Custom 2025 Public Health Guide

Stay ahead with the latest strategies and research without reading endless books.

Latest research insights
Targeted learning plans
Efficient knowledge gains

Forward-thinking experts and thought leaders are at the forefront of this field

2025 Public Health Revolution
Future Public Health Blueprint
Emerging Public Health Trends
Public Health Action Plan

Conclusion

A clear theme across these seven books is the integration of diverse perspectives—from environmental health and narrative medicine to technology and leadership history—that shape Public Health today. Each offers tools to understand the evolving challenges and to engage effectively, whether at the community level or policy arena.

If you want to stay ahead of trends or the latest research, start with "Environmental Health" and "Public Health Informatics and Technology" for cutting-edge environmental and data insights. For practical community engagement, "Foundations for Community Health Workers" combined with "Public Health Nursing" delivers grounded strategies.

Alternatively, you can create a personalized Public Health book to apply the newest strategies and latest research to your specific situation. These books offer the most current 2025 insights and can help you stay ahead of the curve.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Start with "Environmental Health" if you're interested in the intersection of environment and public health. For certification goals, "Certified in Public Health" is a focused choice. Your starting point depends on your personal focus and experience level.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to Public Health?

Some books, like "Certified in Public Health," target professionals preparing for exams, while "Foundations for Community Health Workers" offers practical guidance accessible to newcomers. Choose based on your background and learning goals.

What's the best order to read these books?

Begin with foundational topics such as "Environmental Health" or "Foundations for Community Health Workers," then progress to specialized subjects like "Public Health Informatics and Technology" and "Pandemics, Politics, & Public Health" for leadership context.

Do I really need to read all of these, or can I just pick one?

You can select books aligned with your interests—there’s no need to read all. Each book offers distinct insights; for example, "Telltale Hearts" focuses on narrative medicine, while "Public Health Nursing" centers on community nursing practice.

How do I know if a book is actually worth my time?

These books are authored by recognized public health experts and provide fresh 2025 perspectives. Look for books that match your professional needs or curiosity, and consider reviews or sample chapters when available.

Can personalized Public Health books complement these expert titles?

Yes, personalized Public Health books complement these expert works by tailoring insights to your background and goals, helping you stay current and efficient. You can explore options to create a personalized Public Health book that fits your needs perfectly.

📚 Love this book list?

Help fellow book lovers discover great books, share this curated list with others!