It accomplishes this with the paradigms for reading and thinking presented in the first chapter. The anthology concentrates on problems in the United States, but uses cross-cultural data whenever appropriate to illuminate what is happening in the United States. All selections are well-grounded in the sociological perspective and include a rich variety of data to support the key conclusions that each author makes. Timely essays include the following "hot topics": restructuring the U.S. economy; the continuing legacy of racism in U.S. society; homelessness, the minimum wage; temporary workers; immigration and pluralism; the "bell curve" debate; bilingual education; type schooling and minority success; eating disorders; gender equity in athletics; sexual harassment; gambling; kids and crack cocaine; gun violence; street crime; family violence; blended families; the restructuring of the health care system; AIDS; and hunger.