Sage Publications Sociology for a New Century

This book aims to help college students understand how their lives are shaped by the complexities of global social forces in our new century. It will enable students to develop an approach to thinking about social issues and evaluating claims and arguments. It demonstrates the power and value of thinking sociologically about societies today and helps teach the process of investigation, the sociological craft of research, critical thinking, and careful analysis. Review "This book engages and challenges from page one. It demonstrates page after page, in both the chapters and topical essays, that the sociological perspective is relevant and valuable for understanding social organization and social life in this age of globalization."  -- Tracy Burkett "This is clearly a better book than other introductory books that claim to take a global perspective: better because the theoretical lens is more sophisticated and timely; better because the organization makes sense, because the arguments are coherent, and because I can imagine that others will find it possible to use in the classroom." -- Peter Bearman "I like the global approach of the book. Most introductory texts focus narrowly upon American society, and this book does a much better job of locating national analysis within the global context." -- Thomas A. Hirschl "Each chapter contains rich, timely case studies and vignettes¾ on teen suicide, student credit card debt, genocide in Rwanda, the World Trade Organization protests¾ that personalize or contextualize the topic. At the same time, major sociological concepts, theories, and methodological principles are covered and applied. Strong integration between chapters provides continuity and comparison." -- Kristin Park About the Author York W. Bradshaw is Professor and Chair of Sociology at the University of Memphis. Prior to this position, he was Director of African Studies and Professor of Sociology at Indiana University, Bloomington. He has also taught and lectured at a number of African universities in Kenya, Zambia, and South Africa. Professor Bradshaw has written and taught on a number of topics, including education and health in developing countries, debt and economic adjustment in poor regions, and African and Asian development. His most recent book is The Uncertain Promise of Southern Africa (edited with Stephen Ndegwa). Joseph F. Healey is Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Christopher Newport University in Virginia. He received his PhD in sociology and anthropology from the University of Virginia. An innovative and experienced teacher of numerous race and ethnicity courses, he has written articles on minority groups, the sociology of sport, social movements, and violence, and he is also the author of Statistics: A Tool for Social Research (10th ed., 2014). Rebecca Smith is a freelance writer and editor who has worked extensively with Pine Forge Press on many of our publications. She teaches written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills to working adults through the University of California, San Diego.