Zygmunt Bauman (1925-2017) was a Polish-British sociologist and philosopher, widely regarded as one of the most influential social thinkers of the 20th century. He taught sociology at the University of Leeds and was known for his concept of "liquid modernity," which describes the shift from solid, stable social structures to fluid, uncertain conditions. His major works include "Modernity and the Holocaust," "Liquid Modernity," and "Liquid Love." Bauman's analysis of consumer capitalism, social inequality, and the relationship between modernity and genocide has profoundly shaped contemporary sociological thought.