…a miracle of compression…a straightforward and information-giving textbook - Times Higher Education Supplement It is now twenty one years since the first publication of this classic and bestselling textbook: this year sees the appearance of its seventh edition. Dramatic changes in social legislation and the nature of social problems have been paralleled by new approaches to the teaching of social administration. For the seventh edition, Muriel Brown and Sara Payne have carried out substantial revisions, to present an up-to-date picture of both problems and policies, and to bring the discussion of issues in line with the contemporary economic and political climate. At the same time great care has been taken to retain the book’s essential introductory character.