This short, jargon-free text helps students see how the classical theories of Marx, Durkheim, Simmel, and Weber address many of the issues and problems of contemporary society.

1. The Contemporary Relevance of Old Theories 2. The Janus-Faced Nature of Society 3. Private Lives and Public Connections 4. Separatism and Status 5. Cynicism, Distrust, and Corruption 6. Commodification and the Value of Human Life 7. The Polarization of Economic Resources

Charles E. Hurst is emeritus professor of sociology, having taught at The College of Wooster for 38 years. His research has focused on issues of poverty and inequality in the U.S., the use of social theory to understand contemporary social issues, and the nature of Amish society. He has also served as a consultant to various countywide social agencies. He is author of Living Theory: The Application of Classical Social Theory to Contemporary Life, and co-author of An Amish Paradox: Diversity and Change in the WorldâEUR(TM)s Largest Amish Community, which won the Dale W. Brown 2011 Book Award for outstanding scholarship in Anabaptist and Pietist Studies