Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction - the sociological perspective. Private troubles, public issues
The scope of sociology
What is sociology for?
Part 1: Theories of society. Human history as class conflict
From mechanical to organic solidarity
Structuring patriarchal societies
Intimations of postmodernity
Riding the juggernaut of modernity
Part 2: Research methods. Quantitative versus qualitative methods?
What is a social survey?
Researching individual lives
Sociology's historical imagination
Participant observation/​observant participation
Part 3: Natural and urban environments. Individuality in the modern city
Creating humane cities
The global city
A new ecological paradigm for sociology
A politics for global warming
Part 4: Institutions and organizations. The spirit of capitalism
The essence of religion
. Families in global perspective
The hidden curriculum -a teacher's view
Work in the next industrial revolution
Part 5: Social inequalities. What is social stratification?
Woman - the second sex?
Intersecting inequalities
The rise, fall and rise of social class
The social model of disability.
Part 6: Relationships and the life-course
Life cycle or life course?
Social constructions of sexuality
The normal chaos of love
Ageing and ageism
The loneliness of the dying
Part 7: Interaction and communication
Presenting the self in social life
Throwing like a girl
Hollywood's misrepresentation of Arabs
The Internet galaxy
Building virtual communities
Part 8: Health and the body. Defending Parsons' sick role
What makes women sick?
The experience of illness and recovery
The problem with medicine
Sociology and the body
Part 9: Crime and deviance. The normality of deviance
Crime as a deviant adaptation
The birth of the prison
Principles of restorative justice
How serious are 'cybercrimes'?
Part 10: Political sociology. Defining power
New wars in a global age
The social movement society?
The new terrorism
Cosmopolitan democracy.

The third edition of this best-selling introductory reader in sociology has been thoroughly restructured, and fully revised and updated to offer a stimulating and wide-ranging set of readings for students approaching sociology for the first time. A strong emphasis has been placed on creating a productive mixture of classic and contemporary readings which is highly readable and lively, yet remains challenging. Whilst particularly useful as a companion to the sixth edition of Giddens?s Sociology, the reader is designed for use independently or alongside other textbooks.