This Fourth Edition of George
Ritzer’s Introduction to Sociology shows students the
relevance of sociology to their lives. While providing a rock-solid foundation,
Ritzer illuminates traditional sociological concepts and theories, as well as
some of the most compelling contemporary social phenomena: globalization,
consumer culture, the digital world, and the "McDonaldization" of
society. With examples on every page from current events and contemporary research,
and stories about "public" sociologists who are engaging with the
critical issues of today, the text demonstrates the power of sociology to
explain the world, and the diversity of questions that sociologists seek to
answer.
New to this Edition
- New
"Trending" boxes focus on influential books
written by sociologists that have become part of the public conversation
about important issues.
- Replacing "Public Sociology" boxes, these boxes
demonstrate the diversity of sociology′s practitioners, methods, and
subject matter, and feature such authors as:
- Michelle Alexander (The New Jim Crow)
- Elizabeth Armstrong and Laura Hamilton (Paying
for the Party)
- Randol Contreras (The Stick-Up Kids)
- Matthew Desmond (Evicted)
- Kimberly Hoang (Dealing in Desire)
- Arlie Hochschild (Strangers in Their Own Land)
- Eric Klinenberg (Going Solo)
- C.J. Pascoe (Dude, You′re a Fag)
- Lori Peek and Alice Fothergill (Children of
Katrina)
- Allison
Pugh (The Tumbleweed Society)Updated examples in the text and
"Digital Living" boxes keep pace with changes in
digital technology and online practices, including Uber, bitcoin, net
neutrality, digital privacy, WikiLeaks, and cyberactivism.
- New
or updated subjects apply sociological thinking to the latest
issues including:
- the 2016 U.S. election
- Brexit
- the global growth of ISIS
- climate change
- President Trump′s proposed Mexican border wall
- further segmentation of wealthy Americans in the "super
rich"
- transgender people in the U.S. armed forces
- charter schools
- the legalization of marijuana
- the Flint water crisis
- fourth-wave feminism
