The Real World: An Introduction to Sociology

Ferris, Kerry; Stein, Jill

ISBN 10: 0393251039 ISBN 13: 9780393251036

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company, 2016

Synopsis

The most relevant textbook for today’s students.

The Real World succeeds in classrooms because it focuses on the perspective that students care about most―their own. In every chapter, authors Kerry Ferris and Jill Stein use examples from everyday life and popular culture to draw students into thinking sociologically and to show the relevance of sociology to our relationships, our jobs, and our future goals. New to the Fifth Edition, two Data Workshops in every chapter give students a chance to apply theoretical concepts to their personal lives and actually do sociology.

About this title

About the Authors

Kerry Ferris is Associate Professor of Sociology at Northern Illinois University, where she teaches introduction to sociology, qualitative methods, mass media and popular culture, and sociology of food. She uses ethnographic methods and a symbolic interactionist approach to study celebrity as a system of social power. Her past studies have included analyses of fan-celebrity relations, celebrity sightings, celebrity stalking, red-carpet celebrity interviews, the work lives of professional celebrity impersonators, and the experiences of local celebrities. Her current project examines dead celebrities and their fans. Her work has been published in Symbolic Interaction, Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, The Journal of Popular Culture, and Text & Performance Quarterly. She is the coauthor, with Scott R. Harris, of Stargazing: Celebrity, Fame, and Social Interaction.

Jill Stein is Professor of Sociology at Santa Barbara City College, which was recently named the top community college in the United States by the Aspen Institute. She teaches introduction to sociology in both face-to-face and online formats every semester. She also teaches classes on social psychology, media, culture and society, and social problems. In addition, she is involved in many student-success initiatives at the local and state levels. Her research has examined narrative processes in twelve-step programs, the role of popular culture in higher learning, and group culture among professional rock musicians. Her work has been published in Symbolic Interaction, Youth & Society, and TRAILS: Teaching Resources and Innovations Library for Sociology. 

Edition details

• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Publication date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0393251039
• ISBN 13: 9780393251036
• Binding: Loose Leaf
• Edition number: 5
• Number of pages: 608