Best Introductory Sociology Textbooks

The "untextbook" that teaches students to think like sociologists.

You May Ask Yourself gives instructors an alternative to the typical textbook by emphasizing the big ideas of the discipline. Dalton Conley's "non-textbook" strategy explains complex concepts through personal examples and storytelling, integrates coverage of social inequality throughout the textbook, and provides the largest collection of instructor resources for a book in its price range. The Fifth Edition now comes with an ebook, which gives students access to everything they need in one place.

Society: The Basics utilizes a complete theoretical framework and a global perspective to offer students an accessible and relevant introduction to sociology. John Macionis, author of the best-selling Introductory Sociology franchise over the last three decades, empowers students to see the world around them through a sociological lens, helping them to better understand their own lives. Informative as well as engaging, Society: The Basics will change the way readers see the world, and open the door to a new perspective and new opportunities. In addition to extensively updated data, the Fourteenth Edition offers engaging discussions of hot-button contemporary topics such as the increased proliferation of social media as well as expanded coverage of race, class, and gender.

Essentials of Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach highlights the sociology of everyday life and its relevance to students’ lives. With wit, personal reflection, and illuminating examples, author James Henslin stimulates students’ sociological imaginations so they can better perceive how the pieces of society fit together. Six central themes guide students through this concise overview of the discipline: a down-to-earth approach, globalization, cultural diversity, critical thinking, the new technology, and the influence of the mass media on our lives. The Twelfth Edition has been extensively revised to include contemporary examples and fresh topics that bring sociology to life.

The Real World: An Introduction to Sociology succeeds in classrooms because it focuses on the perspective that students care about most―their own. In every chapter, authors Kerry Ferris and Jill Stein use examples from everyday life and popular culture to draw students into thinking sociologically and to show the relevance of sociology to our relationships, our jobs, and our future goals. New to the Fifth Edition, two Data Workshops in every chapter give students a chance to apply theoretical concepts to their personal lives and actually do sociology.

Introduction to Sociology focuses only on what students need to know in order to master the sociological concepts taught in the introductory course. Each chapter in the Tenth Edition follows the same consistent four-part structure: First, the authors introduce the basic concepts before discussing sociological theory. They then turn their attention to current research and finally wrap up by exploring unanswered questions that face sociologists today. This consistent, thoughtful organization―coupled with learning objectives, Concept Checks, and Big Picture concept maps―keeps students focused on the core concepts.