The McDonaldization of Society

Bol

As one of the most noteworthy and popular sociology books of all time, The McDonaldization of Society 6 demonstrates the power of the sociological imagination to 21st Century undergraduates in a way that few other books have. This engaging work of social criticism is praised for sparking debate in and out of the classroom and for allowing students to read in depth on a small number of fascinating topics, and it vividly demonstrates the relevance of Weber's discussion of rationalization (the basis of McDonaldization) to the everyday life of today's student. This title links a large number of social phenomena to McDonaldization, some which are directly impacted by the principles of the fast-food chain and others where the effect is more tenuous. There is a new final chapter (10) on 'The DeMcDonaldization of Society?' that examines the processes of deMcDonaldization and concludes that while it is occurring on the surface, McDonaldization is alive and well for example, in the structures that underlie Web 2.0 plus many new and updated examples are from the digital world, keeping the text ultimately relevant for the contemporary student reader. It addresses the advantages of McDonaldization, then focuses on the problems and dangers it poses and looks at efforts to deal with those challenges. It examines the link between McDonaldization and globalization. It challenges the reader to rethink McDonaldization as part of the structure of society and to act to reverse the trend towards it.

Bol Partner

One of the most popular Sociology books of all time has been thoroughly updated to examine how McDonaldization has roared into the 21st century. The McDonaldization of Society, Revised New Century Edition discusses how McDonaldization and the broader process of globalization (in a new Chapter 8), are spreading more widely and more deeply into various social institutions such as education, medicine, the criminal justice system, and more. This Revised New Century Edition provides many new, relevant examples from recent events and contemporary popular culture, including the ever-increasing global proliferation of McDonald's and other fast food franchises, shopping malls, and similar commercial entities. Their impact is examined in the post-September 11, 2001 era.