This book uses a dual approach to introduce an analysis of work in industrial societies. First, it analyzes how those societies first evolved. And second, it analyzes specific contemporary industrial societies (United States, Germany, Japan, Spain, and Sweden) to determine what it means to live in an industrial society. By comparing the rise of various industrial societies, Industrial Sociology demonstrates that industrial societies constitute just one type of society (among many types). Using actual situations to provide a real-world context, the book encourages readers to consider the questions inherent to industrial societies, such as implications of living in an industrial society, the power of organizations, development of occupations, implications of shifting from a manufacturing-based economy to a service-based economy, and political and economic implications of international relations. A valuable resource for any reader interested in understanding the changing demands of working in an industrial society.