This best selling comprehensive text shares the excitement of sociology with the acclaimed "down-to-earth" approach that highlights the sociology of everyday life. The 9th Edition of this highly regarded text retains all the features that have made previous editions so successful. The author has a unique ability to engage students without sacrificing content or talking down to them. With wit, personal reflection, and illuminating examples, Henslin shares his passion for sociology with his readers like no other author of an introductory text can. "Henslin hooks students on learning about the world around them, and suggests they seek answers to the question ‘Why should I care?”” Roger Nemeth, Hope College “My students tell me that they love the varied scenarios Henslin provides in the book.” Kristie Palmer, Richland Community College “Henslin begins each chapter with an interesting vignette. The text is accessible and easy to read.” Lucy Ogburn, Middlesex Community College “Henslin offers an introduction to research and his heavy inclusion of research shows its importance. He does this at just the right level.” Jan Poppendieck, City University of New York, Hunter College “I appreciate Henslin’s balanced theoretical approach, good topic coverage, and that the book is very readable.” Derral Cheatwood, University of Texas, San Antonio “The boxed features in Henslin often explore controversial issues that generate great on-line discussions among my distance learning students.” Kristie Palmer, Richland Community College “The boxed examples in Henslin add a new dimension to the course. He truly has a down-to-earth approach.” Sue Dowden, El Camino College “Students like this book because the reading level is just right, the examples are relevant, and the strong visuals keep them interested. My students also like [Henslin’s] accounts of his many travels; they give the book a global feel.” Romana Pires, San Bernadino Valley College &n> Study Smarter! Need Additional Help Studying? Use these great tools to help you get a better grade! Study Guide Plus This manual includes general study and test-taking tips; learning objectives for each chapter in the text; chapter summaries and outlines; key terms and people; and self tests with multiple choice, true-false, fill-in-the-blank, matching, and essay questions. An answer key for all self tests is provided. Check with your bookstore or order online (www.mypearsonstore.com). ISBN: 0-205-57039-9. MySocLab If your text came with a MySocLab student access code, register today and activate your subscription to MySocLab for Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach, Ninth Edition (www.mysoclab.com). MySocLab is an interactive online resource that will help you study, review, and engage with sociology in some new and exciting ways. MySocLab for this text includes: A complete e-book version of the text. - Self-scoring practice tests, to help you prepare for quizzes and exams. - Individualized study plans, to show you what you mastered–and what you should work on. - Video excerpts from interviews with prominent sociologists. - “Sociology in the News”–relevant articles from recent issues of the New York Times. - Research Navigator– a searchable database of scholarly journals, magazines, and newspapers. - A tutorial on “Writing About Sociology” that covers the research process, avoiding plagiarism, and documenting sources. …and much more! James M. Henslin , who was born in Minnesota, graduated from high school and junior college in California and from college in Indiana. Awarded scholarships, he earned his Master’s and doctorate degrees in sociology at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. After this, he was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship from the National Institute of Mental Health, and spent a year studying how people adjust to the suicide of a family member. His primary interests in sociology are the sociology of everyday life, deviance, and international relations. Among his numerous books is Down-to-Earth Sociology : Introductory Readings (Free Press), now in its twelfth edition. This book of readings reflects some of these sociological interests. He has also published widely in sociology journals, including Social Problems and American Journal of Sociology, While a graduate student, Jim Henslin taught at the University of Missouri at St. Louis. After completing his doctorate, he joined the faculty at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, where he is Professor Emeritus of Sociology. He says, “I’ve always found the introductory course enjoyable to teach. I love to see students’ faces light up when they first glimpse the sociological perspective and begin to see how society has become an essential part of how they view the world.” Henslin enjoys reading and fishing