Population and Society

This textbook provides an excellent introduction to the study of population and its significance for many of the key social, political, cultural and environmental issues facing the world today. It covers population growth, ageing, migration and mobility, parenting, health inequalities, and much more. While stressing the complexity of population dynamics, it does a fine job of unpacking this by taking each aspect in turn and setting out the relevant theories, definitions, measures and research findings. The text is written in a highly accessible style, speaking directly to the reader about what 'you' should be learning at each point and why. It is helpfully illustrated by examples drawn from the UK and around the world and complemented by boxes with more detailed information. The authors do not shy away from areas of continuing debate, providing both sides of an argument and encouraging readers to follow up the original sources. Unusually for an introductory text, this is a book which draws the reader on and, once started, is quite difficult to put down.
Tony Champion
Emeritus Professor of Population Geography, Vice President, British Society for Population Studies, 2011-2013