This comprehensive paperback introduction to sociology provides a balanced presentation of the field--e.g., social organization and the individual, social inequality, social institutions, and social environments and social change. Current studies, research, references, and data are woven throughoutas are special boxes highlighting topics of special interest: "Sociology of Media, Internet/Technology, Applying Sociology, Window on Sociology, "and "Global Society." Internet exercises direct readers to a companion website. The Process of Sociological Research. Culture. Society and Social Structure. Social Interaction and Social Networks. Socialization. Groups and Organizations. Deviance, Crime, and Social Control. Social Stratification. Social Class and Poverty in the United States. Ethnic and Racial Minorities. Age and Health in Society. Gender. The Family. Education. Religion. Power, Politics, and Government. The Economy and Work. Population and Ecology. Cities, Urbanization, and Community Change. Collective Behavior and Social Movements. Social and Cultural Change. For anyone who needs an introduction to, or refresher of, basic concepts of sociology, or a broad overview of sociological current research and data.

戴维・波谱诺（David Popenoe）是位于新布伦瑞克的新泽西州立大学社会与为科学学院的社会学教授和副院长，拉特杰尔大学人文与科学学院社会学教授，拉特杰尔社会学系前系主任、学生指导委员会主席，美国家庭委员会的主席之一。他在社会组织和社会变迁、家庭、社区变变等方面有高深的造诣。发表过大量的论著，其中最近的一本是：《家巢的扰动：现代社会中的家庭变迁及其衰落》。其他主要著作涉及个人幸福、公众境况 、城市郊区环境等。

波普诺出生于加利福尼亚的帕萨迪纳，大学毕业于俄亥俄州安提阿学院，并在宾夕法尼亚大 学获得博士学位。他的学术生涯是从城市规划领域开始的。此后，波普诺教授曾在拉特杰尔 大学城市研究中心担任研究指导，在该大学除了开设社会学导论性课程外，还讲授城市社会 学、婚姻与家庭社会学、城市规划、环境社会学、斯堪的纳维亚社会、比较社会制度、社会 变迁和社会理论。