This is an extraordinarily abundant anthology of resources on a topic as broad as any that could be tackled. Given the wide variety of topics and approaches by the 56 writers, the reviewer especially appreciated the organization of chapters. The non-traditional construction, perhaps women's way of ordering ideas, offered a provocative exploration and encouraged new connections for the reader.

Additionally, the editors provide a seven-page guide to 45 topics, alphabetically arranged, from adoption to working-class families. Researchers interested in class differences, for example, are referred to the eleven chapters which include such in their content. This creates an accessibity to the more than two pound resource