Examining the concept of quality of life, the book looks at its relevance to social policy, especially in relation to class, gender, health and cultural diversity. The book explores subjective and objective individual well-being and family, community and social life. "Quality of Life" is related to other contemporary concepts such as social capital, social inclusion and health inequality and set in an international and global perspective. It draws on a range of disciplines to bring a sense of wholeness to a subject which has many disparate elements and which has been treated in the past in fragmentary ways. Overall, it provides the student with a powerful overview of a concept, which is becoming increasingly prominent in the social sciences. "Quality of Life" is a central theme in the study and practice of social policy, but there is very little on the subject written from a social policy perspective. Addressing issues that are dealt with in most mainstream social policy modules the book covers: poverty, social exclusion, health and social divisions and is a welcome addition to the current literature.