Toward the goal of realigning the discipline of sociology with human rights at its core, the editors identified 44 issues for discussion and chose progressive, critical scholars to address them. The articles briefly summarize current thinking, key findings, and prominent methods and then offer critical analysis and discussion of how human rights as a central concern changes the questions sociologists must ask. Topics include various aspects of groups in society--sex and gender, aging, racial and ethnic minorities, children and youth, animals and society, disability, among others; institutions--e.g. law, religion, education; and community issues--e.g. peace and war, the environment and technology, alcohol and drugs; and methodology, practice, and theory. The three editors are affiliated as follows: Brunsma (sociology, Virginia Tech), Smith (sociology, Suffolk U.), and Gran (a former lawyer; scholar of human rights). Annotation ©2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)