The Real World

An Introduction to Sociology

Tenth Edition

1 July 2026

Territory Rights — Worldwide.

Kerry Ferris (Author), Jill Stein (Author)

Description

The #1 book makes sociology relevant for students

Drawing on their extensive classroom experience, Ferris and Stein make sociology relevant with a textbook written for students rather than sociologists. Examples from everyday life, the media, and pop culture get students thinking sociologically about their relationships, jobs, and the future of society, while expanded global coverage helps students understand their place in our rapidly globalizing world. The book’s hands-on approach is supported by a redesigned Norton Illumine Ebook featuring embedded video, animated art, and interactive activities focused on sociological theory.

Highlights of the new edition:

  • New discussions of generative AI explore the impact of this transformative technology on our culture, our classrooms, and our careers.
  • A thoroughly updated Chapter 7 on social class provides a more global picture of inequality, starting with a new opener on the glittery metropolis of Dubai.
  • New Global Perspectives features on topics such as the regulation of drugs and alcohol and national identity at the Olympic Games help students understand their place in our rapidly globalizing world.
  • An enhanced Norton Illumine Ebook featuring a modern new design illuminates core concepts with new animated illustrations and integrated video clips.

Digital Teaching and Learning Tools

Norton Illumine Ebook

This assignable ebook creates an active and engaging reading experience with Theory in Everyday Life interactives, Dynamic Data figures, streaming video clips, and Check Your Understanding questions at the end of each section.

InQuizitive

An award-winning, easy-to-use adaptive learning tool. Students will retain key concepts and theory, apply them, and come to class prepared. Test grades can improve when you assign InQuizitive consistently for points. Integrates with your LMS.

Sociology in Practice Videos

This film clip series offers more than ten hours of footage from documentary films and is ideal for initiating classroom discussion.

Online Data Workshops

These workshops ask students to go out into the real world and get hands-on experience with the methods of sociological research, whether it’s participant observation research, content analysis, survey research, or an interview study.

Purchase Options

Print

9781324116059

231 x 277 mm • 592 pages

Paperback

Access to ebook and learning tools included in bind-in card

£81.00

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Standalone Ebook

9781324116080

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£34.99

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