The new urban sociology -- The origins of urban life -- The rise of urban sociology -- Contemporary urban sociology -- Urbanization in the United States -- Suburbanization, globalization and the emergence of the multi-centered region -- People and lifestyles in the metropolis: urban and suburban culture -- Minority settlement patterns, neighborhoods, and communities in the multicentered metro region -- Metropolitan problems: racism, poverty, crime, housing , and fiscal crisis -- Urbanization in the developed nations -- Globalization and urbanization in the developing world -- Metropolitan planning and environmental issues -- Metropolitan social policy -- The future of urban sociology.