本专辑共精选了14篇文章,从不同的角度展现西方社会,尤其是美国社会的婚姻及家庭生活。《美**庭纵横》首先从整体上讲述西方社会中传统的婚俗、婚姻家庭生活,以及随着社会的发展人们的精神生活所经历的变化又如何反映在他们的现实生活中。随后,《美**庭纵横》又从不同家庭成员的角度,具体地探讨了他们对家庭生活的不同感受以及他们对亲情的不同阐释。
《美**庭纵横》力图为读者打开一扇了解世界的窗户,尽可能地了解西方社会的婚姻和家庭生活,了解他们的爱情、婚姻和家庭观念,取其精华,去其糟粕,从而更好地指导自己的生活。

In a ot of ways I wish my Mom would get remarded, because thenshe wouldn't have to worry so much about finances.But I'm sorry that myDad got remarried,because I feel left out a lot of times. And one thing Ireally worry about is that I think they want to have a baby, and I kmowthat if they do,it will be just like a replacement for me.That' s because Ionly see my Dad on weekends,and since be would see the baby more thanhe'd see me, he' d probably grow to like it more than be likes me,It couldhe a lot like what happenad with my dog Spunkur,I've had him for aboutsix years and I've always said I'll never love any dog as much as I lovehim.Well,a year ago I picked up a little black Labrador1 puppy from thepound,and now I find I'm not as friendly with Spunkur as I used to be.And I think Spunkur feels jealous, just like I would ff my Dad and mystepmother had a haby. My Dad said it wouldn't be that way, that we' d bea whole family and I' d have a little brother or sister, which would be a lotof fun,but I told him,"I.nok,hy the time the kid is old enough to talk,I'll be out of college. I' m not going to have anything to do with a baby.You know that it' s just a replacement for me !" 家是每个人心目中*神圣的地方,是一段疲惫旅程之后酣畅的歇憩,是漂泊的游子温暖的港湾。作为社会生活不可或缺的重要组成部分,家对每个人的成长发育、性格培养都有着非常重要的影响。然而,貌似简单的家庭,却因其成员的不同而衍生出种种复杂的关系,从而造成家庭生活的多样化。尤其是在西方发达**里,随着经济的发展、各种思潮的衍生及成熟,人们对爱情、婚姻、家庭的观念和态度也茌不知不觉中经历着重大的改变。传统的大家庭被各种各样新的家庭形式所取代,婚姻不再是组成家庭的必要前提。同时由于生活节奏的加快,使人们越来越深陷于为生活而生活的无奈中,无暇顾及身边*亲近的人,造成了家庭生活的诸多危机。然而,这一切并不能说明作为社会*基本的组成单位的家庭已到了寿终正寝的时候。人们现实的许多努力正是为了寻找到更适合的“家庭”生活方式。而且也应看到,与此同时还有更多的人在向传统的生活方式回归。

美**庭生活
美国式婚姻
父母离异感概何多
利恩夫妇
单亲家庭的喜与忧
女权即母性
成长
好父亲
与父亲和解
他在办公室
了解父亲
心不甘情不愿的父亲
起居室的“战争”
家庭暴力
……

家庭是社会的细胞,是爱的归宿,经历社会变革中的西方家庭是怎样的?但愿从这本小书中熊窥豹一斑;细细品味之余,使自己的家庭生活更健康、更充实。若能从原版的选文中欣赏英语,体会西方家庭的方方面面,取其精华,提高自身的生活质量,便是出版人的心愿。