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, 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.