Students
Introduction to Sociology Textbook
The textbook is free. Your grades are worth more than free.
Everything in this book is available on the website at no cost — and you’re welcome to use it that way. But if you’ve ever tried to study from a website, you know the problem: you can’t highlight the passage you’ll need for the exam, you can’t dog-ear the page you want to return to, and scrolling through a browser is no substitute for actually reading.
A book works the way your brain works when it’s studying.
With the digital copy ($19.99), you get the full textbook in a format you can highlight, bookmark, and navigate like a normal book. Read it on your laptop, tablet, or phone. No internet required during lectures, on the bus, or the night before an exam. It’s twenty bucks — less than a dinner out — and it’ll carry you through the whole course.
With the print copy ($49.99), you get all of that plus the ability to write in the margins, spread it open next to your laptop, and actually feel like you’re studying. Research consistently shows that students retain more from print. If you’re serious about this course, this is the version worth having.
The free website isn’t going anywhere. But students who own the book tend to study better, stress less, and show up to exams more prepared. That’s the real value here — not the book itself, but what it makes possible.
The textbook is free. Your grades are worth more than free.
Get the book and study the way that actually works — with highlighting, bookmarks, and easy navigation.
Print on demand — ships to you. Not available in stores.
Every key term. Already done.
We’ve done the prep work so you don’t have to. Every key term from every chapter has been matched with a Quizlet flashcard set and a Blooket game. Every chapter includes critical thinking questions to help you review! Key terms are bolded and linked to their definition in the glossary!
Everything you need to say
yes to sociology.
Choosing a major is a big decision — and sociology is bigger than most people realize. We’ve gathered honest, practical guides to help you explore where a sociology degree can take you.
Careers for sociology degrees
Where do sociology grads actually work? More places than you’d expect.
Majoring in sociology
What you’ll study, who you’ll become, and why it matters.
Graduate school options
From law to public policy to PhD programs — your next step, mapped out.
Choosing sociology as a major
Still deciding? Here’s what to weigh before you commit.
Sociology for non-majors
A minor or elective can reshape how you see your field — any field.
Marketable skills
Research, analysis, communication — skills every employer is looking for.
A guide for parents
Help your family understand — and support — your choice.
Seven resources. Thousands of possibilities. Start wherever you are.
About the Author
Stephanie Medley-Rath, PhD is a sociology instructor with 20+ years of experience teaching and inspiring thousands of students. She has published in Teaching Sociology, co-edited The Teaching Sociology Playbook, edited Teaching Introduction to Sociology, and has won several awards for contributions to teaching and learning in sociology. With a deep expertise in teaching Introduction to Sociology, Dr. Medley-Rath is committed to advancing the quality of sociological education and empowering the next generation of students and instructors.
