Seedhouse, David 1956–

(David F. Seedhouse)

PERSONAL: Born August 20, 1956, in Nottingham, England; son of Donald (a schoolmaster) and Betty (Stallard) Seedhouse; married Hilary Smith, May 25, 1991; children: Charlotte, Penelope. Ethnicity: "European." Education: University of Manchester, B.A., Ph.D.

ADDRESSES: Home—17 Elsfield Pl., Torbay Heights, North Shore City, New Zealand. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER: Writer.

WRITINGS:

Health: The Foundations for Achievement, John Wiley & Sons (Chichester, England), 1986, 2nd edition, 2001.

Ethics: The Heart of Health Care, John Wiley & Sons (Chichester, England), 1988, 2nd edition, 1998.

(Editor, with A. Cribb) Changing Ideas in Health Care, John Wiley & Sons (Chichester, England), 1989.

Liberating Medicine, John Wiley & Sons (Chichester, England), 1991.

(With L. Lovett) Practical Medical Ethics, John Wiley & Sons (Chichester, England), 1992.

Fortress NHS: A Philosophical Review of the National Health Service, John Wiley & Sons (Chichester, England), 1994.

(Editor) Reforming Health Care: The Philosophy and Practice of International Health Reform, John Wiley & Sons (Chichester, England), 1995.

Health Promotion: Philosophy, Prejudice and Practice, John Wiley & Sons (Chichester, England), 1997, 2nd edition, 2003.

Practical Nursing Philosophy: The Universal Ethical Code, John Wiley & Sons (Chichester, England), 2000.

Total Health Promotion: Mental Health, Rational Fields and the Quest for Autonomy, John Wiley & Sons (Chichester, England), 2002.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Values-Based Decision Making for the Caring Professions (tentative title); Transit, a play.

SIDELIGHTS: David Seedhouse told CA: "My English teacher first got me interested in writing when I was about twelve years old—I discovered it was the only homework I actually wanted to do. I remember my enormous surprise in unexpectedly discovering that I could be absorbed in the smallest details of meaning and communication. I like to write in my own way. Most of my books are constructively iconoclastic—which is unusual in my field. However, I do admire the work and attitude of the late Paul Feyerabend.

"My writing process slowly moves from rough ideas to what I want to say, requiring draft after draft of most of it, and ruthless editing of repetition and self-indulgence. Most of it is toil, with an occasional leap when I discover what I REALLY mean. The most surprising thing I have learned as a writer is that however clearly you try to express yourself almost everyone will misunderstand what you are trying to say.

"Health: The Foundations for Achievement was my first book, written in nine months. I like it because it is so fresh and confident and youthful. I even like its plentiful naiveties and errors! I hope my books get people thinking and talking. Ultimately—of course—I want them to change the world."