Writing about the history of medical education in Southeast Asia presents a formidable task, especially in a region that has a plurality of medico-cultural traditions under colonial and postcolonial experiences. However, this did not deter Hans Pols, C. Michele Thompson, and John Harley Warner to put together an edited collection that not only adequately represents the countries of the region but also situates these accounts within the global history of medicine. Translating the Body is a welcome addition to the growing historical literature on medical education and an excellent contribution to Southeast Asian studies as well. Written clearly, this book is a must-read for historians and students of medicine, global health, and Southeast Asia.
