- provides a detailed and comprehensive introduction to the concepts and methods of the sociology of farming

- presents a comprehensive conceptual framework and the associated methods for research to provide a solid set of tools for unraveling the complexities of farming and rural life

- contains a wide array of case studies from places as distant as Brazil, Peru, China, the Netherlands, Italy and Guinea Bissau to help readers grasp the commonalities that underlie strongly diversified and divided rural worlds

- lists over two hundred and thirty basic concepts, and includes method boxes that discuss the main methods of the sociology of farming

- essential reading for students and scholars of food and agriculture, agrarian studies, rural development, food and farming systems, peasant studies and environmental sociology