Three basic premises guide this highly successful introductory text: first, that theory and research must be both comprehensive and clear; second, that the text must show how sociology is relevant both to the study of society and to students’ lives in particular; and third, that sociology can play a valuable role in teaching critical thinking skills. To that end, this solid, well-respected text combines a balanced three-perspective approach with excellent student-oriented examples and distinctive social policy sections in a concise presentation that offers an alternative to full-length books.