Even a pancake has two sides, as the old saying goes, and these volumes in the dependable Thinking Critically series espouse this philosophy by offering a pro-con study of complex issues that shape public discourse. Each title begins with an overview of the issue and how it has raised debate in recent news. Four chapters follow, each asking a related question and providing key points, including research and philosophy from experts in the fields. Considerable attention is given to race and socioeconomics in The Death Penalty, which reflects upon whether capital punishment is ethical, is fairly imposed, deters crime, and serves justice. Guided questions, charts, and quotes provide additional resources, as do appended lists of facts, organizations, and websites. Rather than face unwieldy results from an Internet search, students can use this series to frame their research coherently.