What's happening behind the scenes of our everyday lives? Why are there winners and losers in society, haves and have-nots? How do aspects of difference - race, class, gender, age - shape our identities, and our experiences? How do structural forces influence local realities?Getting Started begins with a morning cup of coffee and visits the supermarket and the drive-through, the family room and the Internet. Along the way it unpacks a wide range of contemporary social issues. Countering information overload and overwhelming problems, the social analysis approach builds insight and confidence. In a world where individual solutions are increasingly commonplace, Getting Started promotes collective action and social justice.Preserving its unique approach to social literacy, this completely revised and updated edition offers a wealth of new statistics, examples, and resources. Chapters on globalization, work, and new technology address momentous changes of the past decade.