Robert and Jeanette Lauer's Sociology: Contours of Society offers comprehensive but concise coverage in an affordable paperback format that does not overwhelm students. This unique text speaks to students. Its student-oriented, conversational writing style and inviting design connects with students on their own level--and asks them to apply what they learn to their own lives. Many examples, vignettes, and inserts include student-written material, which draws students into the text. There is little use of sociological jargon. All concepts are highlighted and defined as they are introduced. Each of the major sociological approaches is presented, with a balance between theoretical and empirical material.Features:* A special emphasis on critical thinking. Chapter Two shows students how to apply critical thinking to both popular and professional sources of information. Every chapter features an example of thinking critically well as a critical thinking exercise.* The use of engaging social science research. This adds a unique degree of factual content to the text. Every chapter makes reference to the type of research reported (e.g., participant observation, survey, experiment, etc.).* The integration of theory and methods. Both theory and methods are introduced in Chapter One, and their uses in various research studies are integrated into every subsequent chapter.* The inclusion of feminist theory. Feminist interpretations are given for many of the social issues raised.* A focus on diversity. Each chapter contains cross-cultural material that compares males and females as well as people from various racial, ethnic, and class backgrounds.* A global perspective. Comparisons with the societies of other nations are included in every chapter, along with an "Extensions" box that focuses on a particular country or group of nations.* A balance of micro and macro approaches.* Collaborative learning projects. "Explorations" boxes draw students into the learning process.* A chapter on science and technology. This is a topic not found in many comparable textbooks.* A comprehensive Instructor's Resource Guide/Testing Program is available.

The much-awaited Sixth Edition of the classic best-seller SOCIOLOGY: WINDOWS ON SOCIETY (An Anthology) has been significantly updated with fourteen new sections. The reader continues to draw upon both contemporary sources and the classical literature of sociology to explore the nature of social life - with an emphasis on issues of gender, race/ethnicity, and inequality. The editors have chosen articles that challenge preconceived notions and the conventional wisdom by demonstrating the distinctive power of sociological viewpoint. The units have been divided into parts to show more clearly that various topics covered. New and expanded coverage is given to major concepts in the introductions to the units, the parts, and to each selection. Review questions and application projects encourage students to get involved in the learning process and better understanding social research and methods. New selections in the Sixth Edition address such topics of current interest and concern as: The use of cosmetic surgery to alter appearance The influence of television on gender roles Sexual betrayal in intimate relationships Income inequality between workers and executives Gender inequality in medicine Violence vs. nonviolence in a social movement The quality of life in nursing homes Latino participation in political life The problem of bullying, teasing, and violence in schools Problems of health care in the face of HMOs Issues of dying with dignity by those afflicted with AIDS A completely revised, comprehensive Instructor's Resource Guide/Testing Program is available in book or electronic format.

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.

Product Description: A threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12) A relationship where God and spouses are entwined is as strong and resistant to stresses as a braided cord. A stable, meaningful marriage is further strengthened by a shared spiritual journey, write the authors...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Product Description: Top marriage experts present the first practical guide for using play to add excitement to any intimate relationship Boredom dooms many relationships and often leads to divorce. In their search for the elusive key to happy coupling, the authors of The Play Solution interviewed hundreds of couples and found that the happiest of them agree on one thing: the couple that plays together, stays together...read more

Product Description: Offering the most positive and practical approach to the study of marriage and family life with a manageable amount of sociological theory and research citations, this text is centered around the theme of enhancing intimacy within marriage and the family...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

A guide to restructuring one's parental role explores the options open to empty nesters and describes how to revitalize relationships and pursue dormant dreams

Product Description: Drawing on their own experiences and that of the stepfamilies with which they have worked, Robert and Jeanette Lauer give practical advice on how to deal with the top ten challenges in stepfamily life: loss, adjustment, personal identity, family identity, loyalty, conflicts, former spouses, resources, stepparenting, and marital intimacy...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Product Description: Is it possible to build a rich, intimate marriage in a time-pressured world? This book answers that question with a resounding "Yes!" Jeanette and Robert Lauer address the basic challenge facing couples today - the challenge of successfully managing the competing demands of work and home...read more

Product Description: Rooted in Scripture and filled with case studies from the authors' files, this book shows the reader how to deal with such things as: the trap of little white lies; the temptation to be a parental spouse; the pressure to keep family secrets; the nature of "selfish honesty"--which some think is Christian, but which is destructive to a relationship--and the ways to build an honest marital and family life...read more

Tells how to handle illness, accidents, divorce, humiliation, the death of a loved one, change of job or residence, and uncertainty, and shares the advice of those who have encountered these situations

Product Description: A combination of “how they did it” and “how they do it” regarding successful marriages, this comprehensive book shows how hundreds of couples have managed to build and maintain a fulfilling marriage over a period of fifteen years or more...read more

Product Description: A combination of “how they did it” and “how they do it” regarding successful marriages, this comprehensive book shows how hundreds of couples have managed to build and maintain a fulfilling marriage over a period of fifteen years or more...read more

Product Description: Book by Lauer, Robert H., Lauer, Jeanette C.

Discusses the history and nature of American fashion, examines its relationship to social change and ideology, and explains how fashion serves as an expression of identity