Books in Perspectives series

Sex and sexuality remain contentious issues in twenty-first century America, dividing the country across religious and cultural lines. This volume traces the evolution of attitudes on gay and lesbian issues, transgender identities, women's rights, and sexual behaviors and consent. Going from the mid-twentieth century to the present day, the articles speak to the ongoing debate as writers and journalists attempt to make sense of the diverse sexual expressions found in human society and document the struggles toward greater acceptance and tolerance.

This book relays the factual details of the dropping of the atomic bombs that took place during World War II. The narrative provides multiple accounts of the event, and readers learn details through the point of view of a Manhattan Project scientist, a witness in Hiroshima, and an aide to the US secretary of war. The text offers opportunities to compare and contrast various perspectives in the text while gathering and analyzing information about a historical event.

Today's headlines shine light on the growing trend toward the legalization of marijuana, a psychoactive drug derived from the cannabis plant whose use cuts across diverse classes of people. In this compilation of articles, readers encounter a journalistic history of cannabis use. Successive phases of fear (often coupled with racist attitudes toward Mexicans and Latinos) and embrace (by hippies, U.S. soldiers in Vietnam, and other segments of the counterculture) have often clouded sound judgment about the benefits and risks of the drug. These articles explore every facet of these diverse approaches, highlighting an array of medical, economic, and social perspectives on marijuana and those who use it.

"With the spate of mass shootings in schools and crowded public venues in recent decades, gun control in the United States has become a perennial topic in the national conversation. Conflicts in the debate on gun control include the Second Amendment, the NRA, common sense gun laws, public safety, and more. Through this collection of articles, readers will witness how the discussion of gun control has evolved from the 1960s through today, from the political assassinations of significant figures such as John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. to the Orlando nightclub massacre and the school shooting in Parkland, Florida in 2018"--Provided by publisher.

This book relays the factual details of the Underground Railroad and slavery in the United States. The narrative provides multiple accounts of the events, and readers learn details from the point of view of a slave, a slave owner, and a conductor on the railroad. This book offers opportunities to compare and contrast various perspectives in a text while gathering and analyzing information about an historical event.

Although abortion was officially decriminalized in the United States by the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, perspectives on abortion have always been, and remain today, radically different from state to state and person to person. Religion, access to birth control, the development of women's health care, and institutions such as Planned Parenthood are all at play in the public understanding of abortion. With recent changes in the Supreme Court causing uncertainty for the future of abortion access, the debate between pro-choice and pro-life advocates blazes on. Through this collection of articles, readers will discover stories of women's individual experiences, public protests, and groundbreaking U.S. legislation.

This book relays the factual details of the story of the Hoover Dam, which was built in the 1930s. The narrative provides multiple accounts of the event, and readers learn details through the point of view of a Colorado River explorer, a dam worker, and a dam worker's daughter. The text offers opportunities to compare and contrast various perspectives in the text while gathering and analyzing information about a historical event.

This book relays the factual details of the sinking of the luxury cruise ship Titanic. The narrative provides multiple accounts of the event, and readers learn details from the point of view of a crewmember, a first-class passenger, and a steerage passenger. This book offers opportunities to compare and contrast various perspectives in the text while gathering and analyzing information about an historical event.

Women's roles in society have changed drastically, and as evidenced by the #MeToo movement and growing demands to close the gender pay gap, more work remains to be done to ensure full equality. Through this collection, readers may witness the work that has been done, from the time of the women's suffrage movement through the women's liberation movement and today's struggle to promote equality, all in the face of staunch opponents of feminism or expanding roles for women.