This textbook anthology takes a fresh approach to the study of inequality, promoting a sharper understanding of the intersection of race, class, and gender. It helpfully encourages students to grapple with research articles, both quantitative and qualitative, while offering a readable array of provocative essays, many of them written by prominent scholars. The aim of the text is to give students a more solid, analytical foundation for understanding inequality, while exposing them to the key public debates in American society. Arrighi's lively introduction appeals to student interests and leads them smoothly toward a deeper understanding of the sociological research contained in the book.