Published by University of Minnesota Libraries and Publishing, “Sociology: Understanding the Changing World” is a comprehensive and solid text, but it hasn’t been updated since 2016, so much of the data and examples are already somewhat out of date. It is available to read online, though in a slightly less intuitive way than the others, or download as a PDF.
Category: Zero-Cost Textbook
Boundless Sociology
Boundless Sociology, by Lumen Learning, also covers the standard material for an Intro course. It is primarily intended to be read online, though you can download it. The individual chapters have ads, but the chapter sections can be easily accessed from links in the main menu. There are also PPT slides for instructors to download and a quiz bank, which appears to be openly available, meaning students can access it.
OpenStax Introduction to Sociology 3e
OpenStax’s “Introduction to Sociology 3e“ is a standard Intro textbook that covers core theories and concepts and has chapters on the topics typically covered in a semester-long SOC 100 course. It can be read online, downloaded as a PDF or to Kindle or iBooks, or a print copy can be ordered for $20-$30. The 3rd edition was released on June 3, 2021, and the web version was last updated on January 18, 2024.
