Book excerpt: While most edited books about crime typically concentrate on a particular dimension of it--the police, the court system, or the theories of crime, Dimensions of Crime as a Social Problem is unique in that it connects a specific problem like crime to a larger set of social problems in American society. Thus, by understanding the challenges presented by poverty, racism, inadequate education, gender, and other issues, one gains a greater understanding of the interplay between these problems as well as how they influence and are influenced by the nature of crime. This book draws on a number of researchers who have examined these relationships and offer students invaluable insight into the complexities of the problems facing society. An update of Understanding Contemporary Social Problems, this reader is designed to serve either as a supplement to a traditional textbook for courses on Social Problems or as a stand-alone text. A teacher's manual is available electronically on a CD or via email. Please contact Beth Hall at [email protected] to request a copy.