While providing a rock-solid foundation on all the basic topics and concepts in sociology, George Ritzer focuses on three of today's most compelling sociological phenomena: globalization, consumption, and the Internet. A fourth focus throughout the book is one of Ritzer's signature interests, the McDonaldization of Society (the process by which social organizations and institutions adopt the rational, efficient, means-to-an-end principles of a fast food restaurant). Key features include:

• Globalization features and international case studies throughout expose students the realities of their changing world.
• Consumer Culture and its increasing preeminence in the world is discussed throughout.
• Living Digital features allow students to take an objective look at the Internet and its profound effect on individuals and society.
• Public Sociology exhibits in every chapter demonstrate that sociology is more than an academic discipline.
• Biographical "Bits" in every chapter introduce students to influential sociologists (some in their own words!).
• The Interactive eBook version of the text is available for students in online and traditional courses who prefer a more contemporary, multimedia-integrated presentation for learning. In addition to a full electronic textbook, they can link directly from the "page" to video, audio, additional enrichment readings, glossary terms, and other relevant resources, bringing sociology to life in a way that a traditional print text can′t.