Society: The Basics, 17th edition
Title overview
For courses in Introduction to Sociology.
Change the way your students see the world
Society: The Basics brings the social world to life combining the lively writing of a classroom teacher, use of current examples, and the very latest data. Blending sociological theory and political analysis, author John Macionis helps students connect sociological concepts to political debate and to everyday life. Throughout this concise text, Macionis demonstrates how society shapes our lives, while inspiring students to shape their future.
The 17th Edition offers up-to-date coverage of social media, artificial intelligence and more. Fresh photography and art ensures a high level of student engagement.
Hallmark features of this title
- Seeing Sociology in Everyday Life features highlight the relevance of sociological concepts in today’s world. Examples include “Sports: Playing the Theory Game” and “Growing Up: Are We There Yet?”
- Thinking About Diversity: Race, Class and Gender features explore how differing identities intersect and impact society. Topics include “W. E. B. Du Bois: A Pioneer in Sociology” and “Is Social Mobility the Exception or the Rule?”
- Controversy and Debate features present key issues about which experts have disagreed. Examples include “Are We Free within Society?” and “Does Science Threaten Religion?”
- Thinking Globally features examine how societies differ across the world. Topics include “When High Tech Suddenly Opens the World” and “Does Modernity Mean Progress?”
New and updated features of this title
- UPDATED: The latest scholarly research and data have been incorporated throughout the 17th Edition. All content has been thoroughly updated in response to major changes in our world, with 1,500 new research references, more than 80% published between 2020 and 2025. In addition, each of the more than 2,300 statistics reflects the latest available data.
- NEW: The addition of recent examples keeps the course relevant and helps boost students’ historical literacy. Topics include the 2024 presidential election, ongoing global military conflict, recent Supreme Court decisions and more.
- UPDATED: Chapter 5, Mass Media and Social Media explores the effects of social media on individuals, relationships and society. For the 17th Edition, this chapter has been expanded to include analysis of artificial intelligence. Fresh topics include how AI is reshaping work, boosting traffic safety, helping to fight crime and more.
- UPDATED: Power of Society figures present evidence of how society shapes our major life decisions, countering the common belief that life is a matter of personal choice. Examples include how race and schooling guide marriage choices and how class position influences life expectancy.
- NEW: Fresh photography, fine art and illustrations reflect current popular culture.
Key features
Features of Revel for the 17th Edition
- NEW: AI Literacy Modules teach skills for applying AI responsibly and critiquing AI-generated content. Students receive a Credly® badge, recognized by colleges and employers, for each module they complete.
- UPDATED: Current Event Bulletins bring currency into your classroom with author-written articles that connect key concepts with real-life current events. Author John Macionis will update these articles twice annually to help students make connections between key topics and events and trends in today’s headlines.
- Pearson Originals docuseries videos explain contemporary issues, helping students connect with stories on a personal level and contextualize core concepts.
- UPDATED: Interactive maps feature Social Explorer technology that allows for real-time data updates and rollover information to show changes over time. Window on the World global maps highlight similarities and differences across continents, providing a global perspective. And Seeing Ourselves national maps show social patterns in the US in terms of geography.
- UPDATED: Power of Society predictive graphs compare students’ estimates of social attitudes to research results.
Table of contents
- Sociology: Perspective, Theory and Method
- Culture
- Socialization: From Infancy to Old Age
- Social Interaction in Everyday Life
- Mass Media and Social Media: With an Early Look at Artificial Intelligence
- Groups and Organizations
- Sexuality and Society
- Deviance
- Social Stratification
- Global Stratification
- Gender Stratification
- Race and Ethnicity
- Economics and Politics
- Family and Religion
- Education, Health and Medicine
- Population, Urbanization and Environment
- Social Change: Modern and Postmodern Societies
Author bios
About our authors
John J. Macionis (pronounced “ma-SHOW-nis”) has been writing about sociology and engaged in classroom teaching for 50 years. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, John earned a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, majoring in sociology, and then completed a doctorate in sociology from the University of Pennsylvania.
His publications are wide-ranging, focusing on community life in the United States, interpersonal intimacy in families, effective teaching, humor, new information technology, and the importance of global education. In addition to authoring this bestseller, Macionis has also written Sociology, the most popular full-length text in the field, now available in its 19th Edition. He collaborates on international editions of the titles Sociology: Canadian Edition; Society: The Basics, Canadian Edition; and Sociology: A Global Introduction, which is available in Europe and Asia. Sociology is also available for high school students and in a number of foreign-language editions. All the Macionis titles are available as low-cost Revel editions that offer an interactive, digital learning experience and give students the option of adding a print version. Students can also rent print versions of all US titles.
In addition, Macionis edited the best-selling anthology Seeing Ourselves: Classic, Contemporary, and Cross-Cultural Readings in Sociology, which is also available in a Canadian edition. Macionis and Vincent Parrillo wrote the leading urban studies title Cities and Urban Life, now available in its 8th Edition. Macionis is also the author of Social Problems, now in its 9th Edition and the leading title in this field.
The latest on all the Macionis titles, as well as teaching materials and dozens of internet links of interest to students and faculty in sociology, can be found at the author's personal website. You can also follow Macionis on his Facebook author page.
Macionis stands alone among authors in this field for taking personal responsibility for writing all print and electronic content, just as he authors all the supplemental material. He proudly resists the trend toward “outsourcing” such material to nonsociologists.
John has also written a new book explaining body science developed by Myrna Haag, R.D., that allows the body to realize lean weight and optimal health. WhyYour Diets Fail and the Science That Really Works (by Haag and Macionis, 2025) is available in electronic and print versions from all major book outlets.
John Macionis is now retired from full-time teaching at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, where he served as a professor and distinguished scholar of sociology. During that time, he chaired the Sociology Department, directed the college’s multidisciplinary program in humane studies, presided over the campus senate and the college’s faculty, and taught sociology to thousands of students.
In 2002, the American Sociological Association presented Macionis with the Award for Distinguished Contributions to Teaching, citing his innovative use of global material as well as the introduction of new teaching technology in his titles.
Professor Macionis has been active in academic programs in other countries, having traveled within some fifty nations. He writes, “I am an ambitious traveler, eager to learn and, through the texts, to share much of what I discover with students, many of whom know little about the rest of the world. For me, traveling and writing are all dimensions of teaching. First and foremost, I am a teacher. A passion for teaching animates everything I do.”
At Kenyon, Macionis taught a number of courses, but his favorite classes have always been Introduction to Sociology and Social Problems. He continues to enjoy extensive contact with students across the United States and around the world.
John lives in Vero Beach, Florida, where he enjoys tennis, swimming, and playing blues and oldies rock-and-roll. He is an environmental activist in the Lake George region of New York’s Adirondack Mountains, where he spends the summer and works with a number of organizations, including the Lake George Land Conservancy, where he is past president of the board of trustees, and Fort Ticonderoga, a leading organization in the teaching of US history, where he is vice-chair of the board of trustees.
Professor Macionis welcomes (and responds to) comments and suggestions about this book from faculty and students. Contact him at his Facebook page or via e-mail: macionis@kenyon.edu.