Current and relevant, Kendall's bestselling SOCIOLOGY IN OUR TIMES: THE ESSENTIALS presents the latest data and insights on behaviors, beliefs, issues and trends in our nation and world from a sociological perspective. Updated with new research and an expanded focus on inclusivity, the 12th edition emphasizes the themes of social change (showing students how to get involved), the effects of social media on communication and the intertwining nature of politics and social policy in the U.S. and worldwide. Students explore gun control, military suicides, environmental activism, whether employers should be allowed to "spy" on employees and other issues. First-person accounts of individuals' lived experiences illuminate the text's primary themes.