For Urban Sociology, Urban Political Economy, Urban Anthropology, and Urban Studies courses taught out of the sociology, political science and urban studies departments.

    Cities and Urban Life, authored by two of the best-known textbook writers in the field, provides a comprehensive introduction to urban sociology, urban anthropology, and urban studies courses. Primarily sociological in approach, this book incorporates historical, social, psychological, geographical, and anthropological insights. While strong in the classical urban sociology, it also gives extensive attention to the "new" political economy approach to urban studies. Also, the authors use global cities as case studies for more relevance to students.

New to this Edition

Chapter by chapter changes:

Chapter 1 has been extensively revised to offer a more thorough introduction to all the major concepts in the field of urban   
                      sociology.   
Chapter 4 on today’s cities and suburbs contains
                      - An expanded discussion on the environmental consequences of sprawl and on smart growth alternatives, with the   
                         addition of a chart explaining the main differences between the two.
                      - Expanded discussion on eminent domain
                      - Expanded discussion on political fragmentation
                      - New boxed features have been added on sprawl (“As American as Apple Pie”);
Chapter 6 now includes information on the use of social area analysis for thematic mapping, and on GIS mapping for understanding the interplay of geography and the built environment.   
Chapter 7 includes expanded discussions on important topics: the Los Angeles School
Chapter 8 contains
                      - New sections on social movements and city life and on the social psychology of suburban life.
                      - Expanded discussion on world-systems analysis
                      - New boxed features have been added on sprawl on the texture of cities (“The Personality of Cities”)
Chapter 10 includes a new boxed features have been added on Bobos (“The Bourgeois and Bohemians Merge”)
Chapter 11 has a new boxed features have been added on women in public space (“Targets of Public Harassment”)
Chapter 12 has new boxed features have been added on inner city coping skills (“Inner City Toughness”); and on the new
                        urbanism (“Defining New Urbanism”).
Chapter 13 has been expanded, with a greater emphasis on modern cities in the developing world, their role in world-systems
                         analysis, and their environmental impact.
Chapter 14 contains information on newer urban utopian visions, such as TRY-2004 and Crystal Island.
                        
General changes:

- Coverage of the Canadian urban experience is now included in every chapter to encourage students to think beyond national boundaries.

- Part I Understanding The City: Its Origin and Development
- Part II Disciplinary Perspectives
- Part III The Structure of The City
- Part IV Global Urban Developments