Includes bibliographical references (pages 357-377) and index.

Introduction -- Part One: Why Think Sociologically? -- Visions and Profiles of Students Today -- Generation Z and the Promise of Sociology -- The Light of Reason: Higher Education's Challenges -- Part Two: The Classical Tradition -- Marx and the Dialectic of Dynamic, Unstable Social Formations -- Marx, the Communist Manifesto, and Modernity -- From Descartes to Durkheim: Toward a Science of Society -- Durkheim and the Systematic Study of Social Facts -- Weber and the Interpretive Understanding of Social Action -- The Spirit of Capitalism, Modernity, and the Postmodern World -- Part Three: Sociology and Contemporary Popular Culture -- Culture and Critique -- The Dialectics of Popular Culture -- Rock 'n' Roll as Complex Culture -- The Promise of Sociology.

"The second edition of this award-winning book has been substantially revised throughout, including making more direct connections between the discussion of Generation Z and Mills' concept of the sociological imagination. As well, the final section on popular culture has been revised with a new chapter on the history of popular music (from early rock'n roll to contemporary pop and R&B). This last part of the book offers an extended example for students to see sophisticated sociological analysis at work. New end-of-chapter review and discussion questions, and an instructor manual makes this book much easier to use, even for the most time-challenged."--

Issued also in electronic format.