11 Best Epidemiology Books To Read in [2024] [UPDATED]

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Human health is unpredictable, and so is the outbreak of any new form of the disease. The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the worst outbreaks that took a toll all over the world. Control and prevention are not enough. Medicine, drugs, and vaccines, along with proper study about the contamination, have to be done.

Epidemiology is a field of science that deals only with public health, causes of outbreaks, and policy regulations. Studying epidemiology is very quintessential if you wish to understand the nature of an infection.

We have compiled a list of the 11 Best Epidemiology Books for the researchers belonging to the field of public health and clinic. These guides are a must-read for all the trainees, belonging to either level- beginner, intermediate, or advance.

Best Epidemiology Books Recommended For Health Sector Researchers

Epidemiology is a critical topic. Studying this subject in proper ways only can help you to do some wonderful and meaningful researches. We have prepared a quick list of the best books on Epidemiology. Have a look.

The best textbook to learn Epidemiology are:

  1. Beginner level: Introduction to Epidemiology and Epidemiology: An Introduction are some of the best Epidemiology books for Beginners
  2. Beginner to Intermediate level: Gordis Epidemiology and Essentials of Epidemiology are an excellent choices that can help you to achieve the epidemiological thinking.
  3. Intermediate to Advance level: Epidemiology in Medicine and Modern Epidemiology for effective learning of case-studies.
  4. Advance level: Epidemiology: Study Design and Data Analysis and Epidemiology: Beyond the Basics will help you develop the right set of skills for carrying out own research.

These are some of the best books on Epidemiology recommended for readers from different levels of educational careers. You can choose from this list too. You can read the full description of these textbooks and more in the next section.

 

1. Gordis Epidemiology

Gordis Epidemiology is one of the bestselling textbooks that provides a brief introduction to the basics of epidemiological principles and its applications in public health and clinical practices. The book highlights real-world examples.

The book is divided into three distinct sections. The first section deals with the epidemiological approach to disease and intervention. The next section is about using epidemiology to identify the cause of disease. The final section is about applications and policy evaluation in this field.

It includes brief information on genetic epidemiology, ethical and professional issues, and public policy. This subject provides a strong foundation to understand the importance of epidemiology in the data-driven science society.

Why You Should Buy This Book

  • This includes the fundamentals and concepts, clear and precise style of writing
  • Coloured figures, charts, illustrations for clear understanding
  • Applications of practical epidemiology
  • Self-assessment section
  • Specific Epidemiological terminologies mentioned separately
  • 200 multiple-choice questions available online
  • Online resources available with the main book

Level (best suitable for): Beginner to Intermediate

 

2. Introduction to Epidemiology

The Introduction to Epidemiology written by Ray Merrill is one of the best epidemiology books to understand public health. Overall the book is divided into clear 12 chapters. The initial chapter deals with the principles, historical developments, practical disease concepts, design strategies, and statistical methods in epidemiology.

The further chapter details are on epidemiology according to scenarios (age, gender and so on), general health population indicators, design strategies, experimental studies, and casualties in epidemiology. The concluding chapters are about the field epidemiology & chronic diseases, and clinical epidemiology. The textbook guides in the identification and description of public health problems hence, the formulation of research hypothesis skills would be developed.

Why You Should Buy This Book

  • Separate chapters are dedicated to case studies
  • The last section includes question and answer in detail
  • It is a comprehensive and reader-friendly book for learning this exciting field of science
  • The applications and principles of epidemiology are focused
  • Real-world examples in the form of case studies for clear understanding
  • Self-assessment questions for every chapter
  • Recommended for students with minimal understanding and training in the field of biomedical sciences and statistics

Level (best suitable for): Beginners

 

3. Epidemiology: Beyond the Basics

Epidemiology: Beyond the Basics is written for the readers with previous knowledge of the basic concepts and key features of epidemiology. Appreciated by several readers and epidemiologists from across the world.

There is a total of five sections. Section one is the basic study designs. The further section is about measuring disease occurrence and exposure. It is followed by understanding bias, confounding, and interaction. The quality assurance and control, public health policies are discussed in the concluding chapters.

Why You Should Buy This Book

  • The mathematical calculations related to testing and quality assurance are mentioned
  • The question-answer exercises section mark the end of the book
  • A comprehensive guide, with details on the testing and quality assurance methods
  • A valuable resource for expanding epidemiology-based knowledge
  • Illustrative examples and questions for practice
  • This includes a package of instructor materials like a manual, lecture slides, and a test bank
  • Recommended for advanced level of learners

Level (best suitable for): Advanced

 

4. Essentials of Epidemiology in Public Health

Essentials of Epidemiology is an efficient book of epidemiology in public health. There is a total of 18 chapters that include essential epidemiological topics. It begins with the evolution of epidemiology, measures, and comparisons of disease frequencies. The public health details resources are mentioned with the description on epidemiology and study designs.

It helps the reader to understand experimental studies, cohort studies, and case-control studies.

The bias, confounding, random error, effective measure modifications are also mentioned. A critical review of epidemiological studies and the approach to causation are mentioned in separate chapters. The screening process in public health and the ethics involved in researching mark the end of the book. The last chapter is about the answers to the questions from all chapters.

Why You Should Buy This Book

  • This includes the latest examples and public health data
  • Special coverage of the Ebola outbreak and detailed description of investigation methodologies
  • Relevant examples for epidemiological principles, Illustration
  • Emphasis on social factors that influence health, such as skin color discrimination
  • This book is a combination of both theoretical and practical knowledge of the new concepts
  • A straightforward text with the description of methods including meditation analysis, agent-based modeling, and use of directed acyclic graphs

Level (best suitable for): Beginner to Intermediate

 

5. Epidemiology 101

Epidemiology 101 is an essential textbook that introduces the reader to the basics of infectious diseases and the environmental factors affecting them. Overall the book is divided into a total of 12 chapters. The initial chapter deals with historical and philosophical information. It is followed by data representation and the measurements used to describe a disease outbreak.

The pattern of disease, association, and casualties are also described. The different types of study designs, the health policies, screening for a disease, and the infectious disease investigations are important topics with great details. The social and behavioural impact of epidemiology and applications of this field makes this book interesting.

Why You Should Buy This Book

  • Fully colored pages with tabular data and chart for quick reference
  • Latest and up to date information on various diseases like Ebola and Zika outbreak
  • Data representation and screening of diseases are as separate chapters
  • Comprehensive and easy to understand for intermediate to advanced learners
  • Recommended for the readers with familiarity with health-based topics such as biostatistics and public health sectors.
  • Undergraduates and graduates from the public health sector can take benefit from this book

Level (best suitable for): Beginner to Intermediate

 

6. Epidemiology: An Introduction

Epidemiology: An Introduction is composed of the basic statistics and the philosophy of epidemiology. This book is an essential introduction to the latest methods, logical concepts, and the approach that elucidates the fundamental concepts. Overall the book is divided into 13 clear-cut chapters. The initial chapter is interesting since it describes epidemiology thinking. The next chapter is about pioneers in public health. The discussion on causation, occurrence, and causal effects are also included in detail.

The different types of epidemiological studies, infectious diseases, dealing with biases, random error, and the role of statistics are also mentioned in brief. The next chapter is about analyzing the data, controlling confounding, measuring interactions, and using regression models in analysis. The book concludes on the clinical settings of epidemiology.

Why You Should Buy This Book

  • The book is written straightforwardly
  • Precise text and narrative format of writing
  • Supportive practical examples and studies for a basic understanding of readers
  • Students belonging to undergraduate and graduate-level will find it helpful in building strong foundations of epidemiology

Level (best suitable for): Beginners

 

7. Epidemiology for Public Health Practice

Epidemiology for Public Health is one of the best textbooks on epidemiology since it offers comprehensive coverage of all the essential topics. There are a total of 17 chapters in the book. With the initial chapters describing the history and scope of the subject.

The next chapter includes the practical applications, measures of morbidity, descriptive epidemiology, sources of data, and so on. The important chapter is the study designs, experimental study designs for a proper understanding of the subject.

The next chapters are about measures of effect, data interpretation, disease screening, infectious diseases, molecular and genetic basis, social, behavioural, and psychosocial factors, and so on. The chapter concludes on the health policy and the career choice it offers.

Why You Should Buy This Book

  • Real-world applications and skill development methods are provided. Special emphasis on health disparities, current epidemics.
  • Method of data acquisition, technology for data collection, climate change, and more
  • Specific chapters on psychosocial epidemiology, occupation, health, molecular epidemiologist, and career
  • Illustrative and up-to-date examples with quick tables and figures for references
  • It is recommended for graduate and undergraduate students
  • The content is extensive with descriptive epidemiology and quantitative measures
  • It is reader-friendly since the text is simple
  • The format of writing is intriguing

Level (best suitable for): Beginner to Intermediate

 

8. Modern Epidemiology

Modern Epidemiology is the latest and up-to-date source of information on the latest concepts developed in this evolving science. The topics of epidemiological measures of occurrence and its effects, validity, statistical inferences, study designs and methods, and much more are included. Several topics of data analysis such as Bayesian analysis, bias analysis, and sensitivity analysis are penned down.

The methods of modern regression such as logistic and survival regression are included in detail. Chapters on disease surveillance, social epidemiology, ecological studies, molecular and genetic epidemiology, environmental epidemiology, clinical epidemiology, and meta-analysis are also included.

Why You Should Buy This Book

  • It answers the methodological issues for different applications in public health sectors
  • It is a comprehensive text on the foundations of contemporary research
  • This includes a study design, data analysis, and essential topics
  • Up-to-date and recent information
  • Online resources and content is accessible
  • The book is sectioned into clear-cut chapters that include efficient and relevant concepts

Level (best suitable for): Intermediate to Advance

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9. Epidemiology in Medicine

Epidemiology in Medicine is a compilation of essential topics related to disease and infections. This subject is a simple and direct method of studying the common diseases caused to humans. The major contributions made by the environment in causing them are mentioned too. The book includes various distinct chapters on disease and medicine.

The topics such as a brief overview of epidemiology, causes of infections, and methodologies for case studies, analysis studies, and many more are written extravagantly. The methods to conduct the study, designing an experiment, developing clinical experience are given in brief.

The biological understanding, and statistical knowledge required for becoming an expert epidemiologist are also written down.

Why You Should Buy This Book

  • Simple, non-technical, easy language for understanding the concepts
  • Brief description with the help of case studies
  • Illustrative diagrams and figures, tables in the right context
  • It is a collection of case studies that are very well analyzed
  • The book is essential for understanding the applications in clinical research
  • Recommended for students belonging to the intermediate and advanced level of learning

Level (best suitable for): Intermediate to Advance

 

10. Epidemiology and the People’s Health

Epidemiology and the People’s Health is probably one of the best books on epidemiology to be used as a reference for understanding science and the perspective of human health. The book is centrally focused on the major public health outbreaks and the methodologies used to study them.

It includes the causes of disease outbreaks, infectious diseases, experiments, and method designing for studies, analysis of those studies, and interpretation of analysis results. The book focuses on the theories that help in solving practical problems based on public health issues. It gives a holistic picture of the human experience with diseases over the years.

Why You Should Buy This Book

  • It is a simple, lucid, persuasive, and comprehensive text
  • Written in easy to understand the language
  • A tremendous number of case studies for clearing the concepts
  • Illustrative examples, figures, tables in the right context
  • Clear-cut chapters on the history and the latest principal based on the subject
  • The book is recommended for every science student belonging to the public health sector and biological sciences

Level (best suitable for): Intermediate

 

11. Epidemiology: Study Design and Data Analysis

Epidemiology: Study Design and Data Analysis is a popular book among epidemiological students and statisticians. The book focuses on the qualitative aspects of the research on the subject. It includes up to date and latest information on the techniques to solve epidemiological problems.

The chapters are extensive and begin with the introduction of the study designs and review of standard methods. It has analytical methods for both general and specific study designs such as cohort, case-control, and intervention studies. The book includes modern methods for analysis using computers.

It addresses the issues of size selection for a study, statistical modeling, comparing, and summarizing the evidence for various studies. It also throws light on statistical models in forecasting and assessing new biomarkers. Real-world examples with complete interpretation make the concepts easier to understand.

Why You Should Buy This Book

  • It includes effective chapters on clinical decision rules and risk scores
  • It involves computer-intensive methods like bootstrap, a permutation test, and missing value imputation
  • Important topics of binomial regression models, information criteria, propensity scoring, and splines are included
  • Enough number of questions and examples for users
  • Illustrative figures and diagrams for visualization of concepts
  • Supportive online material for additional knowledge

Level (best suitable for): Advanced

In this article, we have discussed the best textbook for Epidemiology for undergraduates, graduates, and advance students. These are the most popular and recommended 11 best Epidemiology books for every enthusiastic public health sector researcher.

The best picks by us are already mentioned in the initial section. Choose wisely, whichever suit your necessities. Go for intermediate books if you are a quick learner. If real applications excite you and, want to learn differently, go for the advanced level books.

The books that emphasize the career and future scope of epidemiology can also be chosen for studying something different and relevant. The books that come along with online study material are a complete package for learning the subject, from the core to the crust.