The author has approached this work with the aim of providing a manageable length and accessible introduction to sociology. This text concentrates more heavily than conventional texts on developing the psychological and intellectual qualities that are necessary to effectively approach the subject. It is pitched at GCE A Level and is aimed at the sociology student or general reader who is looking for an alternative to the standard texts. The text focuses more on guiding the reader into thinking sociologically than providing a comprehensive grounding in the academic content of the subject. The idea for this type of text originated from a perceived need for such an alternative in teaching Access to Higher Education students and is modelled on an approach that has been applied successfully in working with such groups.