"This edition of Introduction to Sociology brings on a new co-author. The relationship between George Ritzer and J. Michael Ryan goes back more than two decades. In this letter, the two authors talk more about their relationship, how they came to work together on this text, and hopefully, to inspire students to see how sociology, and sociologists, work "behind the scenes." George: "Michael was first a student in one of my classes at the University of Maryland. He went on to take every class I offered, and even co-taught a class with me. He also became a research assistant serving as managing editor of a scholarly journal I edited, the Journal of Consumer Culture. Michael also contributed several updates to another book of mine, The McDonaldization of Society, and will be co-author on future editions. Most recently, he has been my co-editor (also with Chris Rojek) on The Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology, 2nd edition (the largest major reference work in the field today). In between all of that, wehave published several academic articles together, had a few quarrels, and more than a few laughs. Michael has emerged as a leading global scholar in his own right, providing fresh perspectives on many of the classical issues I write about. Significantly, he has held academic positions across five continents. In a world where understanding the importance of globalization has perhaps never been so important, this standpoint has served to significantly enhance this edition." Michael: "It goes without saying that George is one of the leading sociologists in the world today. His contributions to the discipline have spanned nearly five decades and have had a significant influence within the discipline of sociology, as well as beyond it. One of the many strengths of this new edition is that it represents a more rounded vision of sociology. Despite being frequent collaborators, we often have very different perspectives and, while frequently overlapping, our individual areas of expertise are often quite different. George, for example, is an expert in theory, consumption, and globalization, while my scholarly work focuses more on genders and sexualities, the COVID-19 pandemic and health issues, and social inequalities. As we think you will find in this textbook, these "differences" are, in fact, interdependent and complementary." Both: "Sociology is more than just a major; it can also become a way of life. That is certainly the case for us. Sociology is about facts. And about opinions. And about trends. And abouteach of us, our families and friends, social networks, and the worlds in which we live. In sum, sociology is about how all of these things blend together and allow us to develop a social scientific understanding of our contemporary world and our own individual places within it. "This textbook is not intended to persuade but, rather, to inform. Like the societies we live in, it is made stronger by complementary knowledges. We present it to readers as a living testament to the idea that society can be rooted in differences (a growing reality, especially in recent years) yet still grow through mutual understandings based in science, reason, and the many tools that the exciting field of sociology can provide." "We do believe that, though imperfect, our text represents the most comprehensive, academic base for gaining an introduction into the exciting field of sociology in the world today. We hope that you will feel the same." "Welcome to sociology!""--
Introduction to Sociology offers a comprehensive guide that connects traditional sociological concepts and contemporary social phenomena, such as globalization, consumer culture, the internet, and "McDonaldization," to our lives in today's global society. This accessible text encourages learners to apply a sociological perspective and explore how public sociologists address critical modern issues.
Also available in Sage Vantage, an intuitive learning platform that integrates quality Sage textbook content with assignable multimedia activities and auto-graded assessments to drive student engagement and ensure accountability. Learn more about 978-1-0719-1440-3, Introduction to Sociology - Vantage Learning Platform, Sixth Edition.
