Global Social Issues: An Encyclopedia

With articles ranging from adoption to war crimes, this set covers a multitude of subjects that affect various cultures and countries. Each entry offers a history of the topic and describes its effects and potential impact. Medical, environmental, political, and, of course, social issues are all explored, so that, for example, both slavery and social networking are examined on a global scale. What sets this work apart, however, is the inclusion of two primary sources in each article. They usually include one historical and one more-contemporary document per entry. For instance, the piece on alcohol use and abuse includes both Benjamin Rush's 1805 "Effects of Ardent Spirits Upon Man" and the World Health Organization's 2006 "Interpersonal Violence and Alcohol in the Russian Federation." Each topic is followed by cross references and back matter includes a bibliography. A solid choice for reference collections.—Carol Fazioli, Barth Elementary School, Pottstown, PA