This book provides an outstandingly clear and comprehensive review of the different theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of social class and stratification which have been developed since the Second World War. Significant issues, including consumption, the growth of the 'middle' classes, gender, citizenship and the 'underclass' are subsequently explored in the volume.The author explores the various dimensions of class, reflects on recent trends in sociology and defends the exploration of structured social inequality as a key topic in sociology.