Encyclopedia Of Modern American Social Issues Book

The Encyclopedia of Modern American Social Issues examines more than 160 issues, events, and ideas that affect many areas of American life. Here the reader will find a balanced examination of such current topics as social welfare, civil rights, politics and government, the environment, the media, economics, health, family, religion, education, the law, and even sports. Additional entries provide background on issues that are primarily identified with previous centuries but that continue to influence modern issues and controversies. The informative and succinct discussions of these and other social issues found in this volume provide an invaluable resource for students, librarians, historians, and others interested in American social affairs. Cross references, a bibliography, and an index round out the volume.

Library Journal

Some 160 issues, ideas, policies, events, and the like are covered by Kronenwetter, the author of several books on various social issues, whose purpose here "is to provide, in a single source, the information and explanations necessary for a basic understanding of the problems and controversies that have faced and continue to face the United States." Emphasis is on the 20th century. Entries, averaging about 700 words in length, are arranged alphabetically, with cross references, an index, and usually one bibliographic reference. The writing is clear, and longer entries are subdivided; where there are two sides to an issue, arguments are presented in a balanced way. Still, this work is too selective in coverage to serve effectively as an encyclopedia for a subject as broad as 20th-century American social issues. Although it offers an introduction to a fairly wide selection of topics in the field, many relevant topics are omitted. A much more comprehensive source is the six-volume Encyclopedia of Social Issues (Marshall Cavendish, 1997). Kronenwetter's encyclopedia will provide a good starting point for many student papers and as such is recommended especially for high school and public libraries and for academic libraries serving undergraduates.Mary Jane Brustman, SUNY at Albany Libs.