Essentials of Sociology Author:George Ritzer Essentials of Sociology, adapted from George Ritzer?s Introduction to Sociology, Second Edition, provides the same rock-solid foundation in a shorter and more streamlined format. Like the original Ritzer text, Essentials of Sociology illuminates traditional sociological concepts and theories, and focuses on some of the most compelling contempora... more »ry social phenomena: globalization, consumer culture, the Internet, and the ?McDonaldization? of society. As technology flattens the globe, students are challenged to apply a sociological perspective to their world, and to see how ?public? sociologists are engaging with the critical issues of today.« less