Many introductory texts claim to make sociology relevant to student interests. Perhaps no other text has done this so completely-and engagingly-as Connecting Sociology to Our Lives. Tim Delaney not only portrays popular and contemporary culture examples, he explains sociology thoroughly within the frame of the contemporary culture of students-a culture that reigns from political, economic, environmental, and other trends just as much as it involves today's pop stars. Engage your students in sociology through the prism of their own culture. Involve them in critical thinking and classroom discussion through the book's many What Do You Think? inserts. Inspire them to careers with this book's unique chapter, Sociology's Place in Society: Completing the Connection. Enjoy the fruits of an engaged classroom by assigning this remarkably vivid and concise new text. Features of this text: Emphasizes contemporary examples of the relevance of sociological concepts-from song, film, television, sports, web media, and more. Covers all the standard sociological topics in a concise, fourteen-chapter book that allows time for classroom interaction and further readings. Chapter theme boxes include Taking a Closer Look, Connecting Sociology to Popular Culture, and What Do You Think? Focus on American culture along with coverage of sociology in the global community Unique concluding chapter helps students consider the lines of work they can consider with a sociology degree. Encourages an engaged sociology and engaged students. Pedagogy includes: Discussion questions designed to stimulate student thinking at the end of each chapter Chapter opening stories designed to stimulate student thought Chapter reviews of key sociological concepts, terms, and issues, including critical issues relevant to each chapter (e.g., an examination of the obesity epidemic in the United States in Chapter 14) Taking a Closer Look boxes and/or narratives on special topics Clearly written and to the point