The fourth edition of this best-selling introductory reader has been thoroughly revised and updated to offer a stimulating and wide-ranging set of readings for anyone who wishes to engage with the scope of sociological thought today. The book delivers a productive mix of classic, provocative and contemporary readings, highly readable and lively, yet retaining their critical bite. Whilst ideal as a companion to the ninth edition of Giddens and Sutton's Sociology, the reader can equally be used independently or alongside other textbooks.