"The new edition is very nice indeed. I like the timeline, not only for the usual dates of theorists′ births and deaths, but even more for the list of historical events, which are well chosen and will help students get a sense of historical context for the ideas themselves. Also, the expanded material at the end on global society is great. . . .and the list of questions will prove helpful too. I think this is the best introduction to social theories currently on the market!"

-Donald A. Nielsen,University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire

With each passing generation, contemporary members of society are intrigued by how those who lived before them viewed and dealt with their changing world. Newer generations borrow ideas from their predecessors and adapt those ideas to new circumstances in order to define and manage social change. Key Ideas in Sociology, Second Edition explores some of the major ideas that have developed out of this tradition and evaluates their origins, their development, and their relevance at the dawn of the twenty-first century.

The book follows the course of key concepts that have shaped sociological discourse from the founding period in the nineteenth century to the present, and examines four key ideas that have played a central role--industrial society, democracy, individualism, and modernity. Author Peter Kivisto brings these concepts alive by connecting them to the legendary figures responsible for developing, revising, and expanding sociological theory.

Features of this text:

• Interconnects how ideas developed by one theorist have evolved and have been further shaped by subsequent theorists;
• Links classical sociological ideas to today′s thinking about contemporary life;
• Portrays theorizing not as a dry, abstract exercise, but as a practical human necessity in the ongoing quest to understand our ever-changing social conditions.

New to the Second Edition:

• A new concluding chapter on globalization provides a broader view of the sociological enterprise.

• A new timeline familiarizes students with major events in the historical periods when the ideas were generated.
• Theoretical ideas and contributions from women and ethnic minorities are given more coverage.
• Chapter summaries and review questions have been added to aid student comprehension.

Key Ideas in Sociologyprovides undergraduate and graduate students with a concise and intellectual account of ideas that have been developed over time by a variety of social thinkers. It is an ideal supplementary textbook for an idea-oriented introductory sociology course or for any social theory course.

To read a sample chapter from Key Ideas in Sociology click on "Additional Materials" in the left column under "About This Book" or simply click here.