Lauer and Lauer's provocative anthology, Troubled Times: Readings in Social Problems, introduces students to a wide-ranging spectrum of social problems in the United States. The editors have selected articles that are informative, stimulating, and particularly relevant to student's lives. Students are encouraged to think critically about social problems through introductions for each unit and each article. Each section's thought-provoking introduction provides a general overview and grounds each selection in a larger context, which helps readers understand the relevance of the selections that follow. These introductions also identify and explain central issues, key concepts, and relationships among topics.

Troubled Times: Readings in Social Problems offers the following benefits to instructors as well as students:

*A focus on macro and micro factors involved in social problems. This volume takes into account the interplay of social structural and social psychological factors for each problem covered.
*Personal application and involvement projects. At the end of each section is a project for personal application and involvement. These projects guide students in thinking about both how their lives may be affected by the problems discussed and how to engage in further research on their own.
* Stimulates critical thinking and class discussion. Each selection begins with a focus question and concludes with critical thinking questions.
*A focus on diversity. Most social problems have a severe impact on women and racial/ethnic minorities. The selections chosen in this reader reflect an emphasis on gender and race/ethnicity issues.
*A discussion of solutions as well as problems. Several articles include discussion of possible solutions. Additionally, the Epilogue offers some guiding principles for beginning to deal with social problems.