Almost every reader has experienced or will experience the issues--whether it be a variant family form, a family problem, a living situation, or a roleless condition--addressed in Marriage and the Family. Contributors to this important book cover pluralistic family forms, family violence, never married persons, dual career families, the "roleless" role (widowhood), and non-marital, heterosexual cohabitation. This synthesis, when compared to today's familial and marriage situations demonstrates where we should be going in research, demonstration projects, policy change, development and implementation, and also provides an excellent overview of what life options were and are available and the costs and benefits of each.