Changing Societies offers a fresh, timely approach to sociology. Based upon nested theory, the book explains sociology through processes of global and local change--showing how social change occurs in larger global or national structures and influences events that happen in students' immediate personal and social environments. At the same time, Changing Societies emphasizes that social change is a two-way street--that we can influence the world in addition to being affected by it. Racial, ethnic, and gender differences are themes that are woven into every chapter of the book, showing how they affect stratification and inequality, and the workings of particular social institutions and processes. A concluding chapter not only explains agency and social movements, but involves students in activities that help them to think about and plan social action.