Albanese (emerita, comparative religions, U. of California--Santa Barbara) introduces students to the variety of religions in the US, and to the theories and practices of studying religion. She considerably shortened and revised the 2007 fourth edition to account for changes in classes and students, and for this fifth takes account of changes in the religious landscape since then--including findings from the 2010 census. She covers the original cast, new-made in America, patterns of expansion and contraction, and American religion and American identity. Among specific topics are tradition and change among Native Americans, the presence of Roman Catholicism, the protestant churches and the mission mind, African American religion and nationhood, 19th-century new religions, Eastern peoples and Eastern religions, and many centers meeting.