李路路，中国人民大学社会学系教授、博士生导师。曾任中国人民大学社会学系主任，社会与人口学院副院长，中国社会学会副会长。主要专业研究方向为：社会分层与社会流动，组织研究（单位组织），现代化与社会变迁。2003年起，和当时任教于香港科技大学的边燕杰教授作为共同发起人和组织者，在中国大陆组织实施了“中国综合社会调查”项目（CGSS），该项目为中国大陆最早的全国性、综合性、连续性的学术调查项目，以此为基础产生了丰富的研究成果。

Chapter 1 China's Basic Political System
I.China's fundamental political system: the system of people's congresses
II.China's political party system: the system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China
III.The National Institutions and Organization Principle of China
Chapter 2 The Population of Chinese Society
I.A populous country: the history and current situation of Chinese population
II.The benefit for future generations: the formulation and implementation of the family planning policy
III.Aging of population: a huge challenge faced by Chinese society
IV.To act according to circumstances: major adjustment of the family planning policy
V.The flow of migrant workers:the emergence and plight of migrant workers
Chapter 3 The Marriage and Families of Chinese Society
I.Traditional Chinese families and clans
II.The change of families in contemporary China
III.Traditional marriage system of China
IV.Change of marriage in contemporary China
Chapter 4 Education of Chinese Society
I.The ancient Chinese education system and thought
II.The eastward transmission of western sciences and education for the masses in modern China
III.The education system of contemporary China
Chapter 5 The Social Structure of China
I.The equality and inequality in Chinese society
II.The difference between urban and rural areas of Chinese society
III.The occupational structure of Chinese society
IV.China's regional structure and regional imbalance
Chapter 6 The Social Security System of China
I.The establishment of the social security system of contemporary China
II.“People-oriented”: China's social security system
Chapter 7 The Environment and Resources of Chinese Society
I.China's severe environmental pollution
II.China's environmental protection measures
III.China's international cooperation in environmental protection and management
Chapter 8 Internet and Chinese Society
I.Chinese people's ways of socializing and the Internet
II.The change of Chinese people's consumption pattern
III.The change of Chinese people's entertainment
IV.We-Media era
V.The Internet has started a new model of political supervision
Chapter 9 The Character of Chinese People
I.The family concept of Chinese people
II.Chinese people's human relationship
III.Chinese people who are concerned about face-saving
IV.“Moderate” Chinese people
V.Hardworking Chinese people

本书是一部介绍、阐释当代中国社会轮廓和基本特征的通俗理论读物。全书从中国的基本政治制度、中国社会的人口、中国社会的婚姻与家庭、中国社会的教育、中国的社会结构、中国的社会保障体系、中国社会的环境与资源、互联网与中国社会、中国人的性格九个方面，描绘出中国社会最基本、最重要、最具特色的特征。
本书尤其适合两类读者阅读：一是那些希望了解中国社会，但又不甚了解的外国读者；二是那些生活在中国社会中，对这个社会很熟悉，但又没有系统地从整体上思考过中国社会特征的读者。