GP: What is your educational background?
Tischler: I got my doctorate in sociology at Northeastern, my master’s in sociology at Northeastern and a B.A. in psychology from Temple University.

GP: What is the most enjoyable part of your job?
Tischler: I like teaching, that is why I do it.

GP: What do you enjoy doing when you are not teaching?
Tischler: A lot of times, I am so busy between the books that I do and the teaching that I do, but ... I do a radio show, play tennis and do normal things that people do. I go to the theater ...

GP: Did you recently have a book published?
Tischler: Yes, I have actually had a number of books published recently. In the last few years, I have actually had four come out, so it is almost like two books a year. I have a new edition of the Introductory book [Introductory of Sociology: seventh edition] coming out in July. So, actually, since 1999, I have had five books. I have had two revisions of my introductory books and three other books from this other series called Debating Points.

GP: How do you decide what topic you want to write about?
Tischler: Well, in the introductory books, I just have to keep them going. As far as the Debating Points go, I pick these topics because these are the ones that are most commonly used in sociology. This is where a lot of students take courses, in crime, marriage and race.

GP: Do you use these texts when you are teaching?
Tischler: I use them, but the reason I do them is not really for FSC; I started [Introductory of Sociology] in 1983. I think, next September, the one millionth student will use my book.

GP: So was that the first book you published?
Tischler: Actually, I had another one way before then. The first one [is Race and Ethnic Relations]. That is how I got started writing textbooks. That one I did when I was still working on my doctorate. I kind of got into textbooks by accident. I never woke up one day, and said, ‘gee I want to write lot of textbooks,’ but it just happened ...

GP:You first published when you were in graudate school?
Tischler: Yes, the first one actually came out, the Race and Ethnic Relations, when I was working on my dissertation and I told my advisor about this book. He said I was crazy - don’t do it. I didn’t listen to him. I just did what I wanted to do. You know, obviously, it was the right decision. But I had to go against what my Ph.D. advisor said, and I thought maybe if I went against him and got him annoyed, then maybe he wouldn’t let me through. So I was taking a chance, but the chance was worth it.

GP:What is the least enjoyable part about writing a textbook? I feel like I am one of these guys that is under house arrest, with those bracelets around his ankle. I feel trapped to my computer, and trapped in my house. I have to do this because particularly in the Introductory [textbook] the deadlines are so stringent.
Tischler: I feel like I am one of these guys that is under house arrest, with those bracelets around his ankle. I feel trapped to my computer, and trapped in my house. I have to do this because particularly in the Introductory [textbook] the deadlines are so stringent.