We present a detailed study of rotation and differential rotation analyzing high resolution high S/N spectra of 142 F-, G- and early K-type field stars. Using Least Squares Deconvolution we obtain broadening profiles for our sample stars and use the Fourier transform method to determine projected rotational velocities vsini. Distributions of rotational velocities and periods are studied in the HR-diagram. For a subsample of 32 stars of spectral type F0-G0 we derive the amount of differential rotation. We find evidence for differential rotation in ten of the 32 stars. The observations were done with the ESO 3.6m telescope at La Silla, Chile, in October 2000, October 2001 and April 2002. The CES instrument (resolution 235000) was used, in the wavelength regions 577-581nm and 322.5-627nm.