About our authors

John J. Macionis (pronounced "ma-SHOW-nis") has been in the classroom teaching sociology for more than forty 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 best-seller, Macionis has also written Sociology, the most popular full-length text in the field, now in its seventeenth edition. He collaborates on international editions of the titles: Sociology: Canadian Edition; Society: The Basics, Canadian Edition; and Sociology: A Global Introduction. Sociology is also available for high school students and in various foreign-language editions. All the Macionis titles are available as low-cost Revel editions that offer an interactive learning experience. John stands alone in the field for taking personal responsibility for writing all electronic content, just as he authors all the supplemental material. John proudly resists the trend toward "outsourcing" such material to non-sociologists.

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 have written the leading urban studies title, Cities and Urban Life, soon available in a 7th edition. Macionis is also the author of Social Problems, now in its 7th 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, are found at the author's personal website. Follow John on his Facebook author page (John J. Macionis). Additional information and instructor resources are found at the Pearson site.

John Macionis recently retired from full-time teaching at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, where he was 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 to 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 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 near New York City, and in his free time, he enjoys tennis, swimming, hiking and playing oldies rock-and-roll. He is an environmental activist in the Lake George region of New York's Adirondack Mountains, where he works with a number of organizations, including the Lake George Land Conservancy, where he serves as president 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 email him directly.