Sociology in Our Times: The Essentials

Sociology in Our Times: The Essentials, 12th Edition, authored by Diana Kendall and published by Cengage Learning in 2021, is an introductory sociology textbook. The volume presents foundational sociological concepts and analytical frameworks to examine how social institutions, groups, and cultural norms influence human behavior.

The main coverage synthesizes core themes including diversity, global comparisons, everyday applications of sociology, and media and social change. Kendall connects these overarching frameworks to modern policy analysis, incorporating specific coverage of gun control policy debates alongside military suicide prevention policies.

Published in a 592-page print paperback format, this edition structures sociological content into clear thematic modules. It provides academic support for introductory sociology courses focused on social policy, institutional structures, and global social patterns.