This balanced, mainstream, beautifully written and totally up-to-date text is unrivalled in its ability to get students to see the connection between themselves and the social world. It teaches students how to think sociologically, not just what to think, and emphasizes the importance of diversity and a global perspective. It has been heralded for its inclusion of pop culture examples that instantly connect with today's students, and for its presentation of sociological concepts in a fresh, contemporary light.

Robert Brym is S. D. Clark Chair in the Department of Sociology at the University of Toronto. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, a member of the President's Teaching Academy, and a winner of the Northrop Frye Prize for academic and teaching excellence. His introductory-level textbooks have been published in Canada, Quebec (in French), the United States, Brazil (in Portuguese), and Australia. He has published research on the sociology of intellectuals, social movements in Canada, Jews in Russia, and collective and state violence in Israel and Palestine. Currently, his research focuses on the 2010-11 Arab Spring and the ensuing Arab Winter.