American Social Welfare Policy: A Pluralist Approach

This transaction was very easy. I ordered this book for a class I'm taking, and it arrived in time and as described.

Great intro book into the world of social work policy. Easy to read but not dumbed down. Also contains a strong section on the history of social work...A+ for that!

I read this book (in conjunction with other texts) for a graduate section of a Social Policies class, and was impressed with the ease both authors transformed the abstract and dry into something exciting and inspiring. No, social policy is not the most glamorous field for college students to enter, and unarguably the American system's shrinkage is going to pose severe problems in the next couple of years, but emotional and moral rewards of doing what is right make this venture worth it. Alternately, the authors balance this view with pragmatic political approaches that equip the reader with introductory strategies to hold off or even staunch further erosion of American social policy. The book by itself is enjoyable, but advanced classes should use the American Welfare State as a supplementary text for historical background.

I've been reading Karger and Stoesz for years. This is a good, relevant edition to understanding social welfare policy. However, the 4th edition leaves out the historical perspectives; readers will want to refer to earlier editions or supplemental sources for historical content.

This is truly a great book, and you'll want to keep it for a reference even after your classes. Don't forget to buy the supplemental Internet Update ((...) ISBN 0801332389). It's a great resource and really helps when you need to do research or write a term paper!