Throughout his account Mr Nottridge places strong emphasis on the need for comparative perspectives. He uses a wide range of source material from urban environments as far apart as shanty towns in developing countries and the great metropolitan complexity of London. He covers such topics as scope and methods in urban sociology, social differences in towns and , in the context of urban social structure, the family and network theories. He also analyses the work of the Chicago School of Weber, Tonnies, Park, Redfield and Wirth, assessing their value for mdoern urban sociology. The author concludes with an examination of housing, migration and urban poverty. This book was first published in 1972.