The McDonaldization of Society

The McDonaldization of Society: Into the Digital Age, 10th Edition, examines modern social life through an extension of Max Weber's rationalization thesis. Written by George Ritzer, this sociological work argues that the fast-food restaurant has replaced the traditional bureaucracy as the leading model of contemporary rationalization.

The volume explores how the core principles of efficiency, calculability, predictability, and control govern modern life, from dining and digital platforms to institutions such as health care providers and big-box stores.

Recipient of a 2021 McGuffey Longevity Award from the Textbook & Academic Authors Association, this edition incorporates updated data and examples. It also features a concluding study of early efforts to apply rationalized systems during the COVID-19 pandemic.