The Big Questions Books, a new subseries of Studies in Social Inequality, provides an outlet for cutting-edge commentaries on the causes and consequences of contemporary inequality. As the study of inequality becomes ever more specialized, interdisciplinary, and sprawling, there is a growing need for essay-length books that allow scholars to weigh in on relevant debates while freed from the technical requirements of scholarly journal articles and the elaborate documentation of full-length research monographs. This new subseries will feature books that are short and incisive, often controversial, and always widely read.

Sponsor: The Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality
Publisher: Stanford University Press
Series Editors: David B. Grusky and Paula England

Incisive: Essay-length format avoids the distractions of unnecessary formalization or technical detail

Controversial: Provocatively argued even while exposing readers to alternative positions and inevitable ambiguities in evidence

Broad audience: Readership expanded beyond specialist markets by reducing formalization and focusing on debates of broad interest

Quick to market: Time to market minimized by building contributions around existing research programs and previously published work

All-star cast: Agenda-setting, high-profile authors