This book provides readers with selected writings-- of essays, textbooks, and fiction-- from a diverse group of award-winning journalists and authors. It explores contemporary controversial issues, and a progression of skills and strategies, to successfully integrate the concepts of reading and writing, Specific readings cover a broad range of timely social, political, and philosophical themes adults can relate to--such as homelessness, impeachment, abortion, spousal abuse and murder, AIDS, date rape, the glass ceiling, cloning, and advertising of tobacco and alcohol. Contributors include Maya Angelou, Russell Baker, Art Buchwald, Ellen Goodman, John Grisham, Arthur Hope, Charles Krauthamer, Amy Tan, and Alice Walker. For adult readers who want to become lifelong learners through development of their critical reading and thinking skills.