Posted on June 12, 2001 at 2:10 p.m.

BIRMINGHAM, AL — The text Medical Sociology, written by University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) sociologist William C. Cockerham, Ph.D., has been selected by members of the International Sociological Association (ISA) as one of the most influential Books of the Century.

The Books of the Century were selected by ISA members who were asked to list five books published in the 20th century that were the most influential in their work as sociologists. Cockerham’s book, Medical Sociology (Prentice-Hall, 2001), is one of the more than 900 books selected.

Medical Sociology is an introduction to the branch of sociology that investigates the social causes and consequences of health and illness. It was originally published in 1978 and is in its eighth edition.

The International Sociological Association is a non-profit association that represents sociologists of various schools of thought, scientific approaches and ideological opinions. The association’s goal is to advance sociological knowledge throughout the world.