Thirty Readings in Introductory Sociology

Book excerpt: Thirty Readings in Introductory Sociology, Second Edition, introduces students to the field of sociology in an engaging, accessible manner. Designed to be used alone or with its companion, Ten Lessons in Introductory Sociology, the book is organized around four themes commonly examined in introductory courses: Why sociology? What unites society? What divides society? and How do societies change? Rather than provide encyclopedic responses to such questions, Thirty Readings in Introductory Sociology engages students in critical thinking while presenting key concepts and methods in sociology. Edited by Kenneth A. Gould and Tammy L. Lewis, the text raises sociological questions, applies a sociological lens, illustrates how data are used, and presents core topics in a way that is easy for students to grasp. Each section begins with an introduction by Gould and Lewis, followed by three readings: one classical, one that uses qualitative data, and a third that uses quantitative data.