Learn the story—and the sociology—behind the data about today’s families.
Now the #1 book for the course, Philip Cohen’s The Family is an accessible, data-driven introduction to contemporary sociological thinking on families. Drawing on his expertise as a sociologist, demographer, and teacher, Cohen uses data to elucidate key trends in family life and to show how the story of today’s families is a story of diversity, inequality, and social change.
Complete this form to receive Digital Access (Instructors Only)
Features of the New Edition
NEW Norton Illumine
Ebook
A new Norton Illumine Ebook includes Check Your Understanding questions with rich answer-specific feedback, Story Behind the Numbers animations with assessment, and 2–3 Dynamic Data Figures per chapter that bring Philip Cohen’s data-driven approach to life.
Author-narrated interactive on interpreting charts and graphs
A new introductory interactive narrated by Philip Cohen and embedded in the Norton Illumine Ebook walks students through the process of interpreting the charts and graphs in the book.
Updated coverage of race
and Covid-19
A thoroughly updated chapter on race, ethnicity, and immigration includes a dedicated new section that examines the disparate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on families across the lines of race and ethnicity.
About the Author
Philip N. Cohen, Professor of Sociology at the University of Maryland, is the creator of the blog FamilyInequality.com. He has published extensively on the gender division of labor within families, family structure, and health disparities. His writing has appeared in the New York Times and Washington Post, and he has appeared on NPR and MSNBC.
What Instructors Are Saying
“I’m very impressed with this text and the wonderful digital resources for students. I wish I had this when I was an undergrad.”
—Jennifer M. Babitzke,
University of Kansas
“Cohen relies on a diversity of studies to back up the key themes of the book, while keeping the topics fresh and relevant.”
—Casey Errante,
Cape Fear Community College
Image Credits: (Cohen) Philip N. Cohen
Copyright © W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. 2024