Social Problems: A Down-to-Earth Approach

This theoretically balanced book provides a thoroughunderstanding of major social problems facing the United States—theircauses, consequences, likely future course, and what can be done about them.It provides readers with the basic data and thesociological frameworks for interpreting those data. It uses a clear writingstyle, with liberal use of examples, illustrations, tables, and figures wellintegrated into the book and includes 22 A Global Glimpse boxes —that help students keep up with fast-paced global changes, and allows themto compare U.S. problems with those of other societies.

James M. Henslin, who was born in Minnesota, graduated from high school and junior college in California and from college in Indiana. Awarded scholarships, he earned his Master’s and doctorate degrees in sociology at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. After this, he was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship from the National Institute of Mental Health, and spent a year studying how people adjust to the suicide of a family member. His primary interests in sociology are the sociology of everyday life, deviance, and international relations. Among his numerous books are Sociology: A-Down-to-Earth Approach (Allyn & Bacon, available in three versions); Social Problems (Allyn & Bacon); and Down-to-Earth Sociology: Introductory Readings (Free Press). He has also published widely in sociology journals, including Social Problems and American Journal of Sociology.

While a graduate student, Jim Henslin taught at the University of Missouri at St. Louis. After completing his doctorate, he joined the faculty at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, where he is Professor Emeritus of Sociology. His two favorite activities are writing and traveling. He especially enjoys visiting and living in other cultures, for this brings him face to face with behaviors and ways of thinking that he cannot take for granted, experiences that “make sociological principles come alive.”