Policy Press works to counter discrimination on grounds of gender, race, disability, age and sexuality. Cover design by Hayes Design Front cover image: istock Printed and bound in Great Britain by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon, CR0 4YY Policy Press uses environmentally responsible print partners iii Contents List of figures, tables and boxes ix Notes on contributors xiii 1 Defining health literacy: Exploring differences and commonalities 5 Kristine Sørensen 2 From Saranac Lake to Shanghai: A brief history of health literacy 21 Orkan Okan