Health Literacy From A-Z

Intended as an easy-to-use guide, this book is written in a way to inform and inspire you without being overwhelming. There are 43 stand-alone chapters. Arranged alphabetically from A to Z, each chapter includes:
- Starting Points. Introductory information with context for strategies that follow.
- Strategies, Ideas, and Suggestions. How-to tips for communicating clearly.
- Stories from Practice. Real-life experiences that make key points “come alive.”
- Cited Sources. References from podcasts, research papers, articles, books, and more.
- Sources to Learn More. Ways to continue learning about each topic.
To buy this book
- Go to Amazon or Barnes & Noble for print copies.
- Go to Kindle or Apple Books or Nook and other online bookstores for digital copies. Available by rental or lifetime access at RedShelf. Available also at VitalSource and Rittenhouse.
- Universities should contact their wholesale sources for bulk purchases.
- For questions and other purchasing requests, contact Helen Osborne (author) or Susan Friedmann (publisher). Of note, purchase orders are not accepted.
Reader Reviews

Doody’s Book Reviews, 2022

“Health Literacy from A to Z is the primary textbook for my undergraduate health literacy class. It offers foundational knowledge in a succinct and relatable way and supports in-depth class discussion. I often pair chapters of the book with Health Literacy Out Loud podcasts. This combination allows students to hear from multitude perspectives about ways to reduce barriers and increase access to health information and services.”
Catherine Maybury, PhD
Instructor, Horowitz Center for Health Literacy
University of Maryland School of Public Health

Mark Hagerty
Biomedical Writing Services

“Your book is brilliant and comprehensive. It should be required reading for every medical student…and nurse, and patient. Even someone who is fairly savvy about medical terms and comfortable with doctors and nurses will benefit from this work.“
Joel Kowit PhD,
Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biology,
Emmanuel College, Boston, MA & Founder and Director, Immunology Workshops

Leigh Curtin-Wilding MSc,
Director of Boston University’s Health Communication Graduate Program

Aniruddha Malpani, MD,
Mumbai, India

Bonnie Ronan,
Patient/Family Education Coordinator

Naomi Karten,
Author and Speaker

Kashika Sahay,
Student at the University of Rochester

Don Rubin PhD,
Center for Health & Risk Communication,
University of Georgia