Sociology: A Brief But Critical Introduction

This is a thoroughly revised and updated edition of the best-selling introductory reader in sociology. The book offers a comprehensive, yet challenging, set of readings for students approaching the study of sociology for the first time. A strong emphasis has been placed upon readability and liveliness. The volume includes contributions from newspapers and weekly periodicals as well as extracts from academic journals and books. It is designed as a companion to the fourth edition of Giddens' Sociology but can also be used independently, or alongside other textbooks.The book maintains the distinctive approach which Sociology pioneered. It is strongly comparative and stresses the influence of globalizing trends in social life. The readings range from studies of face-to-face interaction through to the analysis of large-scale global systems.There are many new selections in this volume including those on the internet, the information revolution, poverty, social exclusion and ecological problems. The readings are broken up into sections and each section is preceded by a summary of the content in order to facilitate the students' comprehension. The introductory material has been written or updated by Anthony Giddens. The result is a text that is both wide ranging and exceptionally easy to follow. Introductory Readings will be an essential resource for anyone who wishes to acquire a basic understanding of the scope of sociological thought today.