An Anthropology of Biomedicine by Margaret M. Lock (Author) offers a comprehensive exploration of biomedicine from an anthropological viewpoint. The second edition, published on March 20, 2018, by Wiley-Blackwell, introduces readers to the complex interplay between material bodies and history, environment, culture, and politics. This revised and updated version critiques the assumption of a universal human body in biological sciences, instead focusing on how biomedical technologies transform societies based on socioeconomic inequalities and ethical dilemmas. The book posits that the human body, whether healthy or ill, is not an inherent given but a dynamic, changeable entity.

New chapters delve into microbiology and the microbiome, global health, and the self as a socio-technical system. Additionally, all existing chapters have been thoroughly revised to incorporate recent advancements in the field, ensuring relevance and accuracy. References and figures have also been updated throughout the text.

This highly acclaimed and award-winning textbook (winner of the 2010 Prose Award for Archaeology and Anthropology) covers a broad range of topics, including the practical application of biomedical technologies; various anthropologies of medicine; discussions on biology and human experiments; infertility and assisted reproduction; genomics, epigenomics, and their uncertain futures; and how these sciences molecularize racial differences. The book continues to be an essential resource for students and scholars in anthropology, biomedicine, and related fields.

With a print length of 560 pages, this second edition is a valuable addition to academic libraries and personal collections alike, providing insightful perspectives on the evolving landscape of biomedicine.