Risk and uncertainty: A review of three recent texts

This review considers three recently published texts concerned with risk and uncertainty. The review discusses their relevance for the critical analysis of risk thinking and management in health care contexts. Social theories of risk and uncertainty (Zinn 2008) offers a useful source for major risk social theories written by leading proponents, together with synthesising chapters produced by the editor. Uncertainty and risk: multidisciplinary perspectives (Bammer and Smithson 2008) provides chapters which analyse the uncertainties arising in a wide range of disciplines and substantive areas. Organized uncertainty: designing a world of risk management (Power 2007) explores the development of corporate risk management. The three books provide a substantial resource of ideas which can potentially be applied to the analysis of risk management in health care systems. However, these books, like many others, take for granted the concepts of risk and uncertainty, and do not attempt to systematically compare their meanings.