Aimed at second- and third-year courses, the third edition of Choices and Constraints in Family Life is a concise yet comprehensive introduction to the sociology of the family. Drawing on such diverse fields as sociology, anthropology, psychology, and cultural studies, author Maureen Baker takes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the family, examining the various ways in which personal choices and constraints affect intimate relationships and families. The book begins with definitions and conceptualizations of "the family" before moving on to examine stages in the life course, including forming relationships, cohabitation and marriage, child-rearing, and aging. As one of the very few concise texts currently available for family courses offered out of sociology departments, Choices and Constraints in Family Life provides a critical examination of family life from a seasoned, well-respected authority in the discipline.