Budding with new insight, this top-selling, proactive book probes the nature and causes of each major social problem confronting citizens today, and, with historical and multicultural sensitivity, delves into the social control and social action issues inherent to each particular problem. Balancing viewpoints and supporting material with research and policy, each chapter covers topics in a micro to macro format, pointing out the interrelationships among today's social problems and the possibility of approaching them from several perspectives. Chapter topics include sociological perspectives on social problems; problems of physical health; mental illness; sex-related social problems; alcohol and other drugs; crime and criminals; violence; poverty amid affluence; racism, prejudice, and discrimination; sex roles and inequality; an aging society; the changing family; problems of education; problems of work and the economy; urban problems; population and immigration; technology and the environment; and war and terrorism. For individuals looking to understand today's social problems—and help solve them.