Like its predecessors, the sixth edition of this concise text reflects Rick Schaefer s mission to bring readers a comprehensive, up-to-date presentation that teaches them how to think critically about society and their own lives from a wide range of classical and contemporary perspectives. Combining balanced coverage of theory with current research findings, distinctive social policy sections, examples and issues of interest to students, and abundant learning aids and exercises, this text will help students develop a sociological imagination. A complimentary copy of Contexts: Understanding People in Their Social Worlds, the American Sociological Association s groundbreaking magazine, is packaged with every new copy of the sixth edition.. .  In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, sociology has been called on to explain the social consequences of the attacks....