Unequal social relations are reflected in uneven patterns of health within and between populations. In Working for Equality in Health, health workers and academics distil the results of their efforts to understand, oppose and change health inequalities. Working for Equality in Health brings to bear the understanding of a unique combination of practitioners and activists on a key issue for health experience, policy and practice. Common themes and common obstacles become apparent: the need for ever better understandings of the interactive effects of social disadvantage; the damage wrought to people's health by inegalitarian economic, social and health policies and the benefits of alliances between health professionals and other health workers to combat social and health inequalities.