Affirmative action advocate Sterba (philosophy, U. of Notre Dame) presents a concise analysis of the state of affirmative action policy in the US and its importance as a useful tool for social reform. Coverage includes current racial and sexual discrimination in the US; a concise overview of the legal history of race- and sex-based affirmative action; problems with past and current definitions of affirmative action, and proposals for a new definition; a defense of outreach affirmative action; the pros and cons of remedial affirmative action and of diversity affirmative action; an assessment of Thomas Sowell's 2004 study of affirmative action around the world, and its weaknesses in comparing the practice in other countries to that of the US; and a concluding summarization of the moral and legal defense of the practice. For academics, policy makers, and social activists concerned with law, political science, race theory, feminism, and related fields. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)