"Photocopiable lessons on controversial topics" and "Straightforward, easy-to-use material for busy teachers" (Cover page).

1. Death -- Talking about death, funerals, home burials

2. Nudity -- Wearing no clothes is natural. Why do people get so upset about this?

3. Politically incorrect jokes -- Is it OK to joke about disabled people, religion, death?

4. Taboo conversation topics -- Questions you can't ask. For example: how much do you weigh / earn?

5. Should be banned -- Bullfighting, human cloning, boxing, the Ku Klux Klan - ban them all!

6. Not my type -- Bad breath, bites his nails, thin legs - what do you avoid in a partner?

7. Sex for sale -- Prostitution - can we stop it? Should we stop it?

8. Swearing -- Is it OK to swear? What swear words do/could you use?

9. Torture -- Does torture happen in our country? Is torture always wrong?

10. Sexual harassment -- What's wrong with telling a colleague she has nice legs?

11. Bribery and corruption -- Rewards, gifts, bribes, perks - is there any difference?

12. Designer babies -- Blonde hair, blue eyes - would you like to design your children?

13. Children who kill -- When a child kills someone, who is responsible - the child, the parents, society?

14. Gays and jobs -- Does it matter that a doctor, teacher, or the Prime Minister is gay?

15. Animal rights -- We eat them, we do experiments on them, we keep them as pets. Do you object?

16. Marriage – for better or for worse -- What's the point of marriage these days? What's wrong with divorce?

17. Nobody needs a gun -- Gun massacres in schools. Why do people carry guns? Would you ever use a gun?

18. The sale of human organs -- Would you let doctors remove your organs? What about people who sell their organs?

19. AIDS -- What do you know about AIDS? Would you treat a friend differently if (s)he had HIV?

20. Telling lies -- How honest are you?

21. Abortion -- Are you pro-life or pro-choice?

22. National stereotypes --- "They're lazy and dishonest." Blind prejudice, or is there some truth in stereotypes?

23. Cheating on your partner -- What is cheating? Just looking at someone else, fantasizing, an e-mail relationship?

24. Are you happy with your body? -- Cosmetic surgery is no longer just for the rich and famous. Have you thought about it?

25. Immigration and racism -- How do you feel about people from other countries coming to live in yours?

26. Changing sex -- Transsexuals - would you feel uncomfortable if you sat next to a transsexual?

27. Is this news? -- What is the news for - to provide facts or to shock and entertain?

28. The right to die -- Euthanasia - who has the right to choose?

29. Old enough to be her grandfather! -- A 70-year-old man with a 25-year-old woman? Why not?

30. Big Brother is watching! -- Are we losing our privacy? Have you got anything to be worried about?

31. Anxiety and depression -- Do you get depressed? What can you do about it?

32. Gay families -- Two dads and no mum. What is a normal family these days?

33. Begging -- Should we give beggars money or lock them up?

34. Compensation culture -- More people are suing than ever before. Is it right or is it just easy money?

35. Sport and money -- Are top sports professionals overpaid?

36. Vanity -- Are men vainer than women?

37. Legalising drugs -- Is it time to change the laws on soft drugs?

38. Turning the other cheek -- Do you find it easy to forgive people or do you hold grudges?

39. The death penalty -- Are you in favour of it?

40. Addictions -- Alcohol, nicotine, drugs, chocolate, shopping, football. What are you hooked on?

"Taboos and Issues is a photocopiable resource book for teachers. It contains 40 discussion lessons, which give students the opportunity to talk about more controversial issues. Each lesson consists of two pages of texts, language work, discussion questions and activities. The topics covered in Taboos and Issues are those which occur daily on TV and in our newspapers, but which do not appear in teaching materials. Taboos and Issues is designed to bridge the gap between the classroom and real life by giving students the opportunity to talk about things which really matter to them on a personal, political, or moral level. Taboos and Issues is the ideal antidote to the bland discussion materials in most coursebooks." (Back Cover)

Level(s): B1, B2, Intermediate and Upper-intermediate.