The book that made "McDonaldization" part of the lexicon of contemporary sociological theory, read by hundreds of thousands of students, is now in its Ninth Edition! George Ritzer's seminal work of critical sociology, The McDonaldization of Society, continues to stand as one of the pillars of modern day sociological thought. Building on the argument that that the fast food restaurant has become the model for the rationalization process today, this book links theory to contemporary life in a globalized world and resonates with students in a way that few other books do. Ritzer opens students' eyes to many current issues and shows how McDonaldization's principles apply to other settings, especially in the areas of consumption and globalization. Through vivid story-telling prose, Ritzer provides an insightful introduction to this fascinating topic and aids students' critical development. This new edition has been fully updated to include a new focus on McDonaldization in the digital world.