A lively accessible & comprehensive introduction to the diverse ways of thinking about social life Sociology The Basics (second edition) examines The scope history & purpose of sociology Ways of understanding society & 'the social' The state of the world we live in today Suffering & social inequalities Key tools for researching & thinking about society The impact of the digital world & new technologies The values & the role of sociology in making a better world for all The reader is encouraged to think critically about the structures meanings histories & cultures found in the rapidly changing world we live in With tasks to stimulate the sociological mind & suggestions for further reading both within the text & on an accompanying website this book is essential reading for all those studying sociology & those with an interest in how the modern world works