Sociological Theory in the Contemporary Era, Second Edition, combines well-edited, important original writings from sociology’s core contemporary theorists with introductory text that provides a historical and theoretical framework for understanding them. Authors Scott Appelrouth and Laura Desfor Edles use this unique text/reader approach to introduce students to contemporary sociological theory in a lively and engaging fashion. The text/reader provides not only a biographical and theoretical summary of each theorist’s works but also an overarching scaffolding that students can use to examine, compare, and contrast each theorist’s major themes and concepts. The book also offers discussions of past social and intellectual milieus to provide a holistic picture of the development of the theories discussed.