Educational Series: Best Free Sociology Books

Principles of Sociological Inquiry – Qualitative and Quantitative Methods

By Unnamed Author – professor of Sociology at the University of Maine (786 pages)

The founders of sociology in the United States wanted to make a difference. A central aim of the sociologists of the Chicago school was to use sociological knowledge to achieve social reform. A related aim of sociologists like Jane Addams, W.E.B. DuBois, and Ida B. Wells-Barnett and others since was to use sociological knowledge to understand and alleviate gender, racial, and class inequality.

Principles of Sociological Inquiry – Qualitative and Quantitative Methods

By Amy Blackstone, University of Maine (236 pages)

Do you like to know things? Do you ever wonder what other people know or how they know what they do? Have you ever made a decision, and do you plan to make decisions in the future? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you will probably find the information in this book—particularly the information on research methods—very useful. If you answered no to all of them, I suspect that you will have reconsidered by the time you finish reading this text.

Introduction to Sociology – 2nd Canadian Edition

By William Little, B.C. Open Textbook Project (341 pages)

Introduction to Sociology adheres to the scope and sequence of a typical introductory sociology course. In addition to comprehensive coverage of core concepts, foundational scholars, and emerging theories, the book incorporates section reviews with engaging questions, discussions that help students apply the sociological imagination, and features that draw learners into the discipline in meaningful ways.

Although this text can be modified and reorganized to suit your needs, the standard version is organized so that topics are introduced conceptually, with relevant, everyday experiences.

Introduction to Sociology 2e

By OpenStax (507 pages)

Introduction to Sociology 2e adheres to the scope and sequence of a typical, one-semester introductory sociology course. It offers comprehensive coverage of core concepts, foundational scholars, and emerging theories. The textbook presents section reviews with rich questions, discussions that help students apply their knowledge, and features that draw learners into the discipline in meaningful ways.

The second edition has been updated significantly to reflect the latest research and current, relevant examples.