The Blackwell Companion to Medical Sociology is a comprehensive collection of 26 original essays by leading medical sociologists from all over the world. The articles are organized both topically and by region to provide thorough coverage of the concerns, issues, and future directions of the discipline. Editor William C. Cockerham contributes a fine introductory chapter that analyzes the field and then organizes the book in two parts. Part One covers the substantive areas of medical sociology, including essays on the sociology of the body, women's health, work stress, and the modern health care system.Part Two then applies those subjects to individual countries and societies in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa to provide a comparative reference for the most important topics in the field. This Companion thoroughly demonstrates that every region has its own unique medical perspectives and practices. This invaluable resource is the most informed, complete, and up-to-date reference on transnational medical sociology available today.