Discover Sociology

What key social forces construct and transform our lives as individuals and as members of society? How does our social world shape us? How do we shape our world?

Discover Sociology presents sociology as a discipline of curious minds. The authors inspire curiosity about the social world and empower students by providing the theoretical, conceptual, and empirical tools they need to understand, analyze, and even change the world in which they live. 

Organized around four main themes—The Sociological Imagination, Power and Inequality, Technological Transformations of Society, and Globalization—the book illuminates the social roots of diverse phenomena and institutions, ranging from poverty and deviance to capitalism and the nuclear family. "Behind the Numbers" features illustrate the practical side of sociology and shows students how to be critical consumers of social science data reported in the media. And every chapter addresses the question, “What can I do with a sociology degree?” by linking the knowledge and skills acquired through studying sociology with specific jobs and career paths.

New to this Edition

• A new “Discover and Debate” feature focuses on public controversies, and models evidence-based arguments and a respectful exchange of ideas.
• Discover Intersections features illustrate a key sociological insight: how race, class, gender, and other statuses often combine to shape our life chances and the organization of power in society.
• Updated social indicators bring in the latest data available from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Pew Research Center.
• New openers and essay boxes show the sociological significance of interesting contemporary issues and controversies.
• The “What Can I Do With a Sociology Degree?” feature has been revised to reflect greater gender, geographic, age, and career diversity.