Imagine Doing Better: Why Policies Backfire and How Prevention Thinking Can Change Everything

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Paul J. Fleming

Imagine Doing Better

Why Policies Backfire and How Prevention Thinking Can Change Everything

Paul J. Fleming

$62.99

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

Johns Hopkins University Press
14 October 2025

Public health & safety law; Public health & preventive medicine

A bold vision for reimagining harmful public policies through prevention.

Public policies in the United States are built on certain assumptions: that long-term prison sentences deter crime, that corporate profits benefit everyone, that police are the best way to ensure safety, and that meritocracy ensures equal opportunity. Yet, as public health expert Paul J. Fleming reveals, mountains of evidence show that many of these widely accepted policies cause harm, perpetuate inequities, and even lead to premature death.

In Imagine Doing Better, Fleming offers a bold vision for change that's rooted in public health principles of prevention—addressing problems at their root before they occur. Combining rigorous research, historical analysis, and compelling narratives, he examines the deep flaws in policies governing health care, education, justice, and the environment. Fleming unpacks how these systems were built, why harmful assumptions persist, and how they can be reimagined to promote equity, sustainability, and human dignity. Fleming challenges readers to rethink entrenched ideas by exploring thought-provoking questions like ""Are prisons a good investment?"" and ""Is education a ladder or a sieve?"". He highlights how budgets and policies reflect moral choices, and he provides frameworks for advocacy and policymaking grounded in evidence and fairness.

Fleming paints a hopeful—yet urgent—picture of what's possible when societies invest in solutions that prioritize human dignity, equity, and sustainability. Accessible and inspiring, Imagine Doing Better offers a hopeful roadmap to a future where all communities have the resources and opportunities to thrive.

By: Paul J. Fleming
Imprint: Johns Hopkins University Press
Country of Publication: United States [Currently unable to ship to USA: see Shipping Info]
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 26mm
Weight: 544g
ISBN: 9781421452869
ISBN 10: 1421452863
Pages: 296
Publication Date: 14 October 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Paul J. Fleming is an associate professor of public health at the University of Michigan.