SOCIOLOGY IN OUR TIMES: THE ESSENTIALS, 11th Edition uses real-life stories, told by the people who have lived them, as well as timely topics such as the relationship between suicide, bullying, and social media, or the food truck movement and cultural diversity, to introduce you to the study of sociology. The author humanizes sociology, showing you how it is at work in our society and can be applied to everyday life and to the pressing social issues we face. You'll learn how you can make a difference by becoming involved in your community. You'll also examine issues of concern today, such as the war on gun control and policies to help prevent military suicides. Photos and an exciting collection of videos complement the text's main themes of diversity, the application of sociology to everyday life, global comparisons, media, and social change, particularly as it relates to social media and other forms of technology that are bringing about new ways of living and interacting.