Social Problems

Authored by Anna Leon-Guerrero and published by SAGE Publications, Inc., Social Problems: Community, Policy, and Social Action, 8th Edition, is a sociology textbook for students. The volume explicitly connects the discipline of sociology to contemporary social problems while linking those problems directly to potential solutions.

Across its thematic progression, the text demonstrates how individual personal experiences connect to constructive community action. Every chapter analyzes a specific social problem by tracing its primary roots in social inequality. The writing further details how these societal issues manifest in actual public policies, formal social programs, and state interventions.

To illustrate practical civic engagement, this Eighth Edition incorporates personal accounts of ordinary individuals who take active measures within their local communities. This structured approach is designed to support student practice as learners analyze contemporary social issues, evolving policy developments, and local community efforts.