Book Description

Henslin's best-selling brief paperback text shares the excitement of sociology–its acclaimed “down-to-earth” approach and personal writing style highlight the sociology of everyday life and its relevance to students' lives. This text is a brief version of the highly regarded hardcover introductory text, Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach, 7/e. The essential 15 chapters cover all of the topics in the 22-chapter text, and retain the dual emphases on micro and macro (individual and structural) sociology. James Henslin has a unique ability to engage students without talking down to them or sacrificing content. With wit, personal reflection, and illuminating examples, he shares with readers a passion for sociology unmatched by any other introductory text.

Customer Reviews (12)

This book is alright.........
I ordered this book since it was for one of my classes and i was very disappointed with what i received. Grant it, it was page for page exactly the book that i ordered, but when i recieved it, it had this black border that said "free book, not for resale" all over it!! Like written in white all along this black border. BUT for some reason, it's NOT in the picture and that's just not right. Plus, it's not like i can sell it anywhere, i mean it says "dont sell" all over it. If i would've known that was what i was getting, then i probably would've just gone to the bookstore and spent a little more to get a regular one that i'd be able to sell back. But if it makes any difference at all, i got it on time. This is like one of the only disappointments i've ever gotten from amazon.

WSSU
The product was everything that it had listed.It's in great shape and all the pages where there no extra marking of any sort.

Claudette's Review
Excellent Seller. The book was in excellent condition just as stated.I am very pleased.

Enjoyed way more than I expected.
James Henslin has a great ability to keep you interested.This book is not only a good textbook and reference, it also keeps your attention and informs you.Sociology is not my major but this book has definitely made me consider switching to it.

Textbooks
Excellent service.Just the books we needed for our class. Love the speed with which Amazon get their deliveries off to the customer.Keep up the great work. ... Read more

Book Description

This best selling comprehensive text shares the excitement of sociology with the acclaimed "down-to-earth" approach that highlights the sociology of everyday life.

The 8th Edition of this highly regarded text retains all the features that have made previous editions so successful. The author has a unique ability to engage students without sacrificing content or talking down to them. With wit, personal reflection, and illuminating examples, Henslin shares his passion for sociology with his readers like no other author of an introductory text can.

Customer Reviews (4)

Ideological leanings way too obvious; not a good characteristic for an educational text
I was assigned this textbook for my high school Sociology class that I took as an elective in the last semester of my Senior year.I had gone into the class expecting an intriguing, thought-provoking subject that led students to ask the big questions about why people and society are the way they are, and that the textbook would help guide me along the way.Unfortunately, I was pretty dissapointed, to say the least.

Let me add a disclaimer saying that I am a firm Independent; I'm a college-bound kid who dislikes political and ideological squabbles and believes both the Right and the Left have equal merit in their own ways.That being said, the reason for my rating is that, as my title suggests, the author's opinions and biases shine through quite blatantly, much of it appealing sharply to the Left wing of the ideological spectrum.While most textbooks simply give you facts, with maybe some interpretations to help you form your own conclusion, Henslin has the negative tendency to editorialize, using word choice and selected statistics (not to mention his own "personal observations") to paint certain aspects of society in a good or bad light as he sees fit.This is a very inappropriate, and I might go so far as to call it dangerous, thing to do when writing educational material to be taught to youngsters.

As an example, take a look at his chapter on economic theories, in which capitalism and socialism are both given analysis.The problem is, when socialism is mentioned, Henslin spends a significant majority of the time in which it's mentioned explaining the goals and the lofty ideals of it, and little time mentioning its inherent drawbacks (which all ideologies have).

The whole rest of the chapter, however, is dedicated to capitalism; more specifically, how capitalism basically is so totally exploitive, greedy, and concentrates power in the hands of the tiny few, with the phrases "exploitation," "greed", "believe greed is good," and "elite" dropped here and there.Add further excerpts implying that American democracy is little more than a puppet show controled by rich business interests who sway the government, and it's not hard to see how someone impressionable would learn to unflinchingly hate the whole theory in general.This is NOT what a textbook is supposed to do.

Henslin then spends much of the time talking about class, race, gender, etc...as was to be expected.The problem here is that, again, he editorializes, rallying around whatever the oppressed group of the time may be and almost relentlessly guiltmongering against whites, men, and people in classes that can live comfortably.

The chapter about gender is a particular treasure trove for this sort of thing; near the beginning, Henslin writes a particular gem referring to gender in the workplace, which goes something along the lines of "Imagine that two women are talking when they are supposed to be working.When the male boss walks by, he would most likely tell them to get back to work.But what if it were two men talking?For instance, if they were talking about sports, would he be more likely to join in on their conversation instead of telling them to get back to work?This is just one of the inequalities that women face in the workplace." (not a verbatim quote, but that's the basic gist of it).

And it just gets better from there, some of it based off of true injustices that happened in the past and do still happen today, but a lot of it off of generalizations and editorials that I, as a young male, found quite offensive.When my class finished with that chapter, I felt as if Henslin was doing everything short of saying that I was going to roast in Hades for having an XY chromosome.Extremely one-sided, with the guilt and blame poured on heavily.

I could go on about how the book gives readers guilt trips about how people in our own supposedly-prosperous nation and around the world are living in poverty while we comfortable-living ingrates sit on our butts taking part in an exploitive culture driven by self-interest, but I've already gone on long enough.

Suffice to say this much; this book's biases are dead obvious to anyone who is truly objective-minded enough to notice it.It's kind of a shame, because I truly believe that Henslin had good intentions when he wrote this, and I do believe that, like many liberal-minded people, he has a genuine concern about the injustices of the world and a desire to see it change for the better.But that doesn't excuse the fact that opinionated language, finger-pointing, guiltmongering, and editorializing play a major role in getting this textbook's points across.

A schoolbook is supposed to present cold hard facts to students with an absolute minimum of bias, so as to respect them enough to form their own beliefs and interpretations; not indoctrine them with the exlusive ideas of a narrow ideological philosophy.I'm almost disheartened that this book has gotten so many rave reviews singing its praises about it's objectivity and enlightening messages.Then again, as much as I hate to perpetuate stereotypes, this is mostly read by college students, and, on the political spectrum college kids are often...well, you get the idea.

I wouldn't really recommend this textbook to any educator who wishes to maintain a proper balance of opinion in the classroom.If you do end up reading it, though, be prepared to take your grain of salt to class with you.

Fun and informative
I have to admit, I hate the soft sciences, but I had to take Sociology 101 for a requirement.Thank goodness this was the textbook assigned to the course!Everything is perfectly clear and it's actually really fun to read.Even if you're not taking a course, I'd recommend this book to anyone who would like to call themselves knowledgable.It is a fun read, and you'll come out so much more informed in the end - painlessly!

great
Excellent service. Book was shipped same day and I received it 2 days later.

Interesting and Lively
Admittedly I haven't read a lot of sociology textbooks, but this one is quite good. Every chapter has real-life examples (and many of the author's own experiences), so it not only makes you know the theory but also feel itat work in our societies, although the author writes quite a lot of his ownfeelings (it's dead obvious that he wants to change the world), which Idon't know if it's a good point or not. ... Read more

Book Description

The title says it all. This tenth edition of the best-selling Sociology is a comprehensive book and multimedia package that offers readers a global perspective to help them better understand their own lives, provides a strong focus on social diversity that allows them to see the impact of race, class, and gender, and focuses on critical thinking. With technology integrated throughout, this new edition features new research citations, more social theory applications, additional references to pop culture linking directly to sociological material. Covering all aspects of sociology, this book describes sociological investigation, culture, society, interaction in everyday life, groups and organizations, deviance, sexuality, social stratification, social class in the United States, global inequality, gender stratification, race and ethnicity, aging, the economy, politics and government, family, religion, education, health and medicine, population and urbanization, collective behavior and social movements, and social change. An excellent resource for professionals in the field of sociology, this book is also an excellent read for non-academic hobbyists and life-long learners.

Customer Reviews (1)

An Excellent Text
This book is very well-written and informative, promotes critical thinking, has a very high visual impact, and is by far the most interesting and impressive sociology book I have ever seen. ... Read more

Book Description
Sharpen your sociological skills . . . connect with sociology . . . and master the concepts with Kendall's expert guidance! Vivid and compelling, Kendall's text uses real-life stories and unique Lived Experiences to introduce you to the study of sociology. Kendall takes you on an exciting journey that lets you experience sociological theory and research and see for yourself how it can be applied to everyday life and to the pressing social issues we face. As you explore body image, poverty, suicide, Hurricane Katrina and the war in Iraq, you'll see the relevance of sociology to your own life–and, you'll see how accurately the book's real-life stories mirror the diversity in society. Plus, Kendall presents ideas on how you can get involved and effect social change. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

school sucks
it's a school book. who likes school books? honestly? but no it's ok. no complaints from me...

Boring
This is the worst college class I have had. This book is sooo boring. It is all common sense; I learned nothing except how to name everyday knowledge with big words. This class was awful, and so was the book. Sorry I'm usually not negative about anything I just can't help it, it has been a horrible four months. I expect a A, which is a really big deal because I thought I was going to fall asleep in several of the tests. Horrible, just horrible.

A fine introduction to sociology
As one of the most recently-developed social sciences, not to mention one that seems to be consistently popular with college students, sociology is a field that truly needs a good comprehensive text. Put quite simply, this is it. Diana Kendall, a well-respected scholar and author in the field, has managed to put together a text that manages to cover all of the major subfields of the field, presenting a lot of information on each, and giving a good general overview. All of the major subpoints of sociology are covered:population studies, race/gender/ethnic relations, collective behavior, criminology, and more. In addition to providing a solid block of information for each subtopic, Kendall further invigorates her text with well-placed contemporary and classical photographs, graphs, charts, and other peripheral information. She also prefaces each chapter with a real-life example relating to the forthcoming information, a quiz about the information contained within (which sometimes will yield surprising results!), and more. Throughout the individual chapters, she also sprinkles dialogue boxes with separate takes on individual subissues relating to the major topic at hand and shows readers how they can get involved. As a bonus for the college student, certain editions of the book feature a CD with access to additional material, and a free four-month subscription to Infotrac, a well-known scholarly index.

Kendall writes well, and she presents a lot of information. Therein, however, lies my only complaint about this text:certain chapters feel overlong. Granted, sociology is a diverse field, and this book attempts to cover it all between a single set of covers. Still, some chapters are so jam-packed with information that they become somewhat tiresome. Nevertheless, it is all good information -- and all worth reading. It is a small complaint, on the whole, that does not detract from the overall quality of the text.

In summary, this is an excellent introductory text both for a college text and for the individual reader.

One of the better Sociology Textbooks
There are a number of good sociology textbooks available, and one can choose almost any of them with confidence.However, this is definitely one of the best.It is accessible, yet the author does not talk down to the student.The illustrations are pertinent and timely.The choice of topics is comprehensive.It is a broad-ranging textbook, yet, at the same time, is focused and direct.

The instructor who chooses to use Sociology in Our Times can be comfortable with the choice.The student who is fortunate enough to have a teacher who chose Sociology in Our Times should be confident that they have had a good exposure to Sociology.If one learns the material in this book they will be well-grounded in Sociology.

Sociology in our times
this book is very board. it doesn't discuss things in details. Personally,I don't like this kind of book. I would rather get a psychology than this. ... Read more

Book Description
SOCIOLOGY: THE ESSENTIALS, Fifth Edition, uses the theme of debunking myths to look behind the facades of everyday life; challenge ready-made, common-sense assumptions; and help students develop critical thinking skills and better understand how society is constructed and sustained. This thorough but streamlined text provides exceptional coverage of diversity, including social factors such as age, religion, sexual orientation, and region of residence, in addition to race, ethnicity, class, and gender. The text employs a reader-friendly presentation and very manageable structure, even while maintaining a strong focus on sociology concepts, methods, and research. The new edition includes coverage of the latest research and current trends and themes, including the impact of technology on sociological topics. ... Read more

Book Description
Introduction to Sociology, Sixth Edition, organizes the core concepts of modern sociology around the unifying theme of globalization. Taking a comparative approach, the authors examine American society in a global and historical context, underscoring the wide diversity of social forms and social change. The authors emphasize the connections between American and world societies and the integral role of individuals in shaping both local and global society.

Retaining the hallmark clarity of previous editions, the Sixth Edition has been updated to reflect the most recent sociological research and data. This edition also offers expanded in-text pedagogy and exceptional print and multimedia resources for students and instructors. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Not for intro courses
This is a typical mammoth intro textbook, which means it is far from adequate for intro courses. The authors assume that the student is going to devote eight hours a day to the intro course alone, a rather unrealistic expectation. There are dozens such textbooks, none practical. What the point in a many-page bibliography, which not even one in a thousand is even going to consult? It's about time we came down to earth, and started writing intro textbooks for intro courses.

Excellent
This book was exactly what we ordered and came in a timely manner.It was also in excellent condition.

explains main concepts in sociology
The (distinguished) authors give a newcomer to sociology an indepth introduction. Explaining the main concepts in the field. While also trying to imbue the student with an enthusiasm for sociology. The text is well polished, as it should be for a fifth edition.

The book surveys various human communities throughout the world, to give a basis for comparative analysis. By doing so, the reader should gain an appreciation for other modes of living. And also how to analyse one's own society or subsets of it, in an objective manner.

Intro to Sociology Giddens
The delivery time was satisfactory.The book was in good condition with the exception of some pages in the front that were dirty.

organization
After studying an entire semester with this book, Imust say that I am not satified about the organization of the book (not the content which is very interesting). I feel like there are too much informations on the same page and it gets easily confusing. ... Read more

Book Description
Like its predecessors, the seventh edition of this text reflects Rick Schaefer's mission to bring readers a comprehensive, up-to-date presentation that teaches them how to think critically about society and their own lives from a wide range of classical and contemporary perspectives. Combining balanced coverage of theory with current research findings, distinctive social policy sections, examples of interest to students, and abundant learning aids and exercises, this text will help students develop a sociological imagination.An optional package combines Schaefer, Sociology, Seventh Edition and Reel Society Interactive Movie 2.0 CD-ROM at nominal extra cost.

"The introductory sociology class provides the ideal laboratory in which to study our own society and those of our global neighbors. The distinctive emphasis on social policy found in this text shows students how to use the sociological imagination in examining such public policy issues as sexual harassment, the AIDS crisis, welfare reform, the death penalty, and the offshoring of service jobs." Richard T. Schaefer ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Sociology book
The book is new but it didn't come with a CD. When the information comes up it says it was "with audio Abridgement CD - Rom..."", only the owner said it wasn't part, so I didn't read it all and thought I was buing something with CR-Rom. You should always read how Amazon says about the product and what the owners says. I had to different information about the same product

Sociology: A Brief Introduction w/Audio
This product came to me in a timely fashion and I was prepared to start my class.

Great Sociology Book
When I bought this book I was a Sociology major. Since then I have changed my major, but I will keep this book forever. Although we were assigned readings in class, I rarely did so, but when I did I was intrigued. This is a well written easy to follow book. I would definately recommend this book to anyone who is even slightly interested in Sociology or studying sociology. The author doesn't bury the reader with useless fluff or try to drown you in big technical wording. This book starts out by giving the background of sociology and a brief bio of the initial major contributors in the field. I haven't gotten rid of this book because when I decide to MAKE time to read, I will read this again. It's got my vote.

Excellent Service
I have received my item very quickly and it was brand new as it was described. Thanks a lot :-)

Refrain From Using This Book
I am a college student. go through about 9-12 textbooks per year. There are textbooks that I don't mind reading for class yet very rarely do I find a book that is just plain bad like this one. I own the newest edition (6th) of Schaefer's Sociology: A Brief Introduction and I plead teachers and professors out there NOT to use it. Despite being the 6th edition and costing around $70 for a new copy in bookstores, the book seemed unpolished, incohesive, and very confusing.

Everyday I have around 20 pages to read for every one of my class and guess which one I put off until last? If you guessed Sociology: A Brief Introduction, you are correct. Even after reading the book carefully and highlighting, I can't seem to grasp the information very well. The facts and information seem to be randomly toss at me out of no where. There is no organization in the text. A very painful read. PLEASE DON'T USE THIS BOOK IN THE CLASSROOM.
... Read more

Book Description
DISCOUNTED BUNDLE SAVES YOUR STUDENTS MONEY!
This book is available bundled with Sociology: Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life Readings, Seventh Edition (bundle ISBN: 978-1-4129-6151-6)

The Seventh Edition of David Newmans Sociology: Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life invites students to delve into the fascinating world of sociological thought. Encouraging students to think more about how sociology applies to their everyday lives, this edition features updated coverage and fresh examples, including revamped micro-macro connections to help students understand the link between individual lives and the structure of society.

New to the Seventh Edition

Customer Reviews (4)

The only book in college that I have enjoyed reading...
This book is very entertaining and of course extremely educational. I had no previous knowledge of sociology but I am absolutely fascinated with it thanks to this book and a great professor.

I do have one warning about this book though. It is extremely biased towards liberal views. I was raised in a predominantly conservative area of the midwest, and my conservative friends would label me a "bleeding heart liberal" or something like that, but I still found this book to be a little bit too liberally biased for me in some parts. Newman makes it extremely obvious through his writing that he is WAY liberal, which is OK for the most part because he backs his bush bashing up with facts... but you have to have one hell of an open mind to not notice some one-sidedness in the book.

The thing is, Newman is almost always right, and I have realized by studying this book that my society brought me up with some unwarranted prejudices. It has opened my mind a lot to ideas of sexual orientation and race,but I still am bothered by his presentation of society's treatment towards the obese in Chapter 6. I just don't buy that they are all victims... He forgets to mention perhaps the reasons WHY the top 1% of obese Americans are paid less or WHY morbidly obese children have sometimes been removed from their homes due to nutritional neglect. Newman wants us to believe that these workers and parents are victims of an unfairly prejudiced society, but if a worker is less productive, should they really be paid the same? If a parent is only feeding their child pizza and fried chicken, should they not be held responsible for the serious health problems that come from malnutrition? Newman points out that a shocking percentage of Americans are obese, but doesn't bother posing these questions.

Still, It is an extremely well written book and i have enjoyed it, and that is saying a lot. I have hated every other textbook I have ever owned. I would consider reading this even if I didn't have to.

Excellent Intro Sociology Text
This book is absolutely amazing!Coming from a symbolic interactionist perspective, Newman manages to educate and entertain at the same time.I highly recommend this book to teachers that use classroom interaction as a method of instruction.

Ideal for classroom curriculum development
Now in a substantial revised and expanded fifth edition, Sociology: Exploring The Architecture Of Everyday Life By David M. Newman (Professor of Sociology, DePauw University) is organized into three major sections: "The individual and Society"; "The Construction of Self and Society"; and Social Structure, Institutions, and Everyday Life. This newly updated edition features an expanded discussion of theory including a new table summarizing the theoretical sociological perspectives, as well as the role of theory and research methods in the field of sociological inquiry. Five new "Visual Essays" have now been developed, and students will have complete access to an online "Student Study Site" created especially for this edition with information of considerable value to instructors and students including interactive quizzes, vocabulary flash cards, and resources for further study and research. Sociology: Exploring The Architecture Of Everyday Life is a superbly organized introductory text and ideal for classroom curriculum development. Also very highly recommended is the supplemental companion volume, Sociology: Exploring The Architecture Of Everyday Life - Readings (0761988289, $44.95) which is a 408-page collection of professional articles collaboratively compiled and jointly edited by David M. Newman and Jodie O'Brien (Associate Professor of Sociology, Seattle University).

Believe it or not, an ENJOYABLE textbook!
Simply excellent.Although it's a college textbook, it's easy to read and enjoyable.I found myself nearly finished with the book before the semester was half over!As Newman intended, the book has a relaxed tone and all of the chapters are tied together with a consistent theme.I now understand sociological theories and ideas--phenomena that I never thought were relevant to everyday life. ... Read more

Book Description
This revised edition of Tischler's INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY continues a tradition of providing a proven and comprehensive textbook to students and professors at a lower, very reasonable price. With its built in study guide, practice tests, and available access to SociologyNow, no other textbook on the market provides students with a complete suite of study aids at an affordable price as INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY.Tischler is known for providing full coverage of sociological concepts in a student-friendly manner, and threading two basic ideas throughout the text- 1) sociology is a rigorous, scientific discipline and 2) a basic knowledge of sociology is essential for understanding social interaction in many work and social settings. Each chapter progresses from a specific to a general analysis of society - each part introducing increasingly comprehensive factors necessary for a broad-based understanding of social organization. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Completly satisfied
Since I paid for a 2-day service, I received it in 2 days. Book came brand new. I also found this book to be more expensive on all the other book sites for college books. Lastly it was available when at the other sites they were either sold out or on back order the week classes started.

great seller
this book ariived quickly and in great condition, would definitely buy from this seller again

I recommend this book for the CLEP Exam
In addition to the exam study guide through the College Board, this book was my primary study material for the Intro to Sociology CLEP Exam. Of 100 questions, I only ran across 3-4 that covered material not in the book. Note: I think Tischler focused really well on concepts, but not as well on contributors to the science. Accordingly, I spent additional time on Wikipedia for some of the bigger names associated with Socioligy (ie, Cooley, Mead, Weber, etc). Overall, it was an informative read and I feel like I came away with a comprehensive handle on the major concepts of the field. (PST: I passed the exam with flying colors!)

This book is a keeper.
There are some books you don't mind listing back with Amazon to sell, however, this book is one to keep. It is very easy to understand and covers all the introductory aspects of Sociology.

A great introductory book
Henry Tischler does a marvelous job writing this book.It is both up-to-date and accurate, blending a myriad of graphs and pictures with easy to read text.It is definitly recomended for the serious studentinterested in sociology as well as the student taking sociology to meet aGE requirement.It does a marvelous job touching each aspect of sociology,both macro and micro.I highly recomend it for possible sociology majorand anybody just wishing to gain a greater understanding of this science. ... Read more

Book Description
With 11 new articles and expanded coverage on race and inequality, the Fifth Edition of Readings for Sociology provides students with engaging selections that reveal the complexities of our social world and help students think sociologically. New selections include articles by William Julius Williams, Mary C. Waters, Anthony Walton, Michael Burawoy, Russell Shorto, and Michael Messner, as well as new articles on globalization by James Watson, Robert Glennon, Robert Inglehart and Wayne Baker, and Paul Wapner. In addition, a wide range of classic essays by C. Wright Mills, Karl Marx, Max Weber, and others make Readings for Sociology a comprehensive and balanced supplement to the introductory course. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent
This book was exactly what we ordered and came in a timely manner.It was also in excellent condition.

discusses globalisation's effects
This recent book is the latest in Massey's long running series. Just over 20% of the selections here are new; ie. not in the 4th edition. Massey gives emphasis on topics that have garnered recent broad interest.

Especially globalisation. We see speculations on the societal repercussions of this, where the societies are those of the developed countries. Equally interesting would also be investigations of the rippling effects on the developing countries that are benefiting from outsourcing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Completely satisfied from the product.
This book is for my SOC101 class and needed to buy. Also, I would advise that if you personally interested in about Sociology, you may want to buy this book.It has lots of explanation stories too. ... Read more

Book Description
This new Eighth Edition of SOCIOLOGY IN A CHANGING WORLD will help you visualize sociology all around you! Let this experienced author help you explore the reality of social change and its impact on individuals, groups, and societies throughout the world. SOCIOLOGY IN A CHANGING WORLD uses the theme of social change to tie together the many elements of sociology while it helps you develop an understanding of the science. Soon, you will begin to see real sociology at work in the world everyday. You’ll examine the social epidemiology of AIDS and the growing obesity epidemic, collective behavior, including fads, fashions, rumor, gossip, panic, and mass hysteria, aging in a global perspective, and gay and lesbian relationships and families. ... Read more

Book Description
This best-selling applied, comprehensive book highlights the relevance of sociology by including a diverse collection of theories, research, and "lived experiences" that accurately mirror the diversity in society itself. The author’s vivid, personal writing style engages readers by using compelling everyday examples that make sociology particularly relevant for today’s diverse students. Kendall’s text is acclaimed in the field for being the first textbook to integrate race, class, and gender issues, and for its thorough presentation of sociological theory, which includes diverse theoretical viewpoints such as feminist and postmodernist theory. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A great 101 book
I took a course using this book during my 2nd year & learned a great deal from it. As a PSYC major, I was interested in how fundamental Sociology is in creating a foundation for psychological studies. So...in short, a sociology text like this should NOT be used just by Sociology students. It was definitely fascinating (as well as current, relevant, & unbiased)!

Extremely Good College Material
This book has been used by many college institutions as the basis of their Sociology instruction. The book contains many real life sociological issues and presents them to the reader in a way that is both modernized and easyto understand. The author of this book has many years of experiance in theSociological field and has authored and co-authored many sociologicalbooks. This specific book provides an extremely good fundemental basis forindividuals seeking a strong basic foundation for a focus on Sociologicaleducation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Sociology book
This book was for school so it is definetly good for that purpose. It was in excellent shape when I recieved it. If your really into sociology I guess you might want to read this book but this review is not really fare because I have to read it. ... Read more

Book Description
This introductory book uses a balanced and systematic application of sociological theory throughout to help readers see the difference between myths and realities about society. Designed for anyone interested in sociology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent Service
The book arrived before any of the other books i bought and was just like the seller explained. ... Read more

Book Description
Sociology: A Global Perspective, 7/e introduces you to the concepts and theories of sociology, demonstrates how they can be used to think about the most significant and pressing global issues of our day, and uses powerful visual images to illustrate their impact on individuals, local communities, and society. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

WONDERFUL book!
This is a great book to learn about cultures and the way society runs. I have learned so much from this book, it's unbelieveable. It has a non-objective view point on every topic, and contains quotes and sources for everything Ferrante writes. It's very easy to read and very well written! A WONDERFUL book!

Covers the basics
This text book is very basic, but it is good at covering the basic principles of Sociology.Reading this text book would pretty much have you covered for a Soc 101 course.Anything beyond that you would need extra reading material.

OK
Not sure how I ordered this book. I remember looking up the info on this book but not ordering it. It didn't cost but a few dollars, but it was useless to my daughter. It didn't include what was to be InfoTrac. ... Read more

Book Description
This lucid book presents the discipline of sociology to both the general reader and the student. Viewing sociology in the humanist tradition, Berger points out its affinity to history and philosophy, as well as its need for scientific procedures. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Inspiring Book
What an awe-inspiring book! Peter Berger presents a detailed description of what it means to study sociology, to be a sociologists, and how sociology can change the world. As an college student majoring in sociology, I found Berger's book to be phenomenal in its analysis of a world requiring sociological thought. After reading the book, I was once again reminded why I chose to study sociology in the first place.
This is a book for anyone who wishes to further understand the facets of the discipline of sociology, or to understand the dedication of a sociologists. Berger seems to present the idea that we all can be dedicated sociologists, in the hopes to understand why things are the way they are.
A facinating book that should be read by all! I was blown away and I will keep An Introduction to Sociology by Peter Berger upon my shelf as one of my greatest reads. A real treasure, one that opened my eyes further to sociology, to an understanding of social structures, and of myself.

Stil a great introduction to sociology of knowledge
Even with bright students (I am assuming some I have had are among the bright) there are problems with this book. It was a required text for my Sociology course in my student days and I have a fondness for what it did to me in leading me on to PB's "The Social Construction of Reality". SCR is clearly too difficult for most students and Invitation is much more accessible. Still, I have found students to be aghast at some of the expressions that clearly place it as a book of the sixties. On the other hand, I have not found a more accessible book that describes the postmodern point of view -- the view of sociology -- in as successful a way as this one. I therefore present it along with an explanation. It would be great if Peter Berger readdresses this invitation to new students with an update that incorporates politically correct language. The change in perspective is a tough experience. It would help if the language used were not an additional barrier.

I am still looking for a new book that will do the same thing to new students that this book did to me.

Great book...for EVERYONE.
Before reading this book I was not a sociology student.After this book I realized that we are all students of sociology, some better than others.The better ones live in more freedom, more understanding, seeing through walls of the fortress that our society is.Everything looks so normal, until you start to dissect.

This is a short book, PACKED with information. Berger's English is superb. It flows naturally with creative sentence formations and use of vocabulary.

If you find yourself discouraged, you may skip the first chapter.I found it least interesting of them all.Chapters following are great and will keep you glued to your reading chair.

Interesting and entertaining intro to sociological thought
Berger discusses the role and place of sociology in the modern world. He stresses sociological consciousness--seeing how macro structures shape individuals. He shows how what we think to be our long-standing socialtraditions and norms are really just arbitrarily socially constructed. Herehe expands on the debunking tendecy of sociology to question our commonlyaccepted assumptions about the social world.

There are great examples ofhow society forms us internally and surrounds us externally. Bergerdemonstrates the different sociological perspectives as well as touchinglightly on the differnt theorists (Durkheim, Weber, Simmel, etc.). Inshowing how one is boxed in by social forces, he uses a great metaphor of aperson who stands in the center of concentric circles of social control(law, state, occupation, race, class, family, religion, etc.). Society alsoshapes us internally by providing systems of meaning, or ideologies, thathelp us make sense of the world.

He relates sociology not only to thesocial sciences but to the humanities and philosophy. The ethicalconsiderations for sociological research are looked at in"Sociological Machiavellianism". The overall theme is thatsociety limits freedom and individuals should question tradition bydebunking the established order. Easy and interesting, he makes sociologyrelevant to everyday life.

Interesting and entertaining intro to sociological thought
Berger discusses the role and place of sociology in the modern world. He stresses sociological consciousness--seeing how macro structures shape individuals. He shows how what we think to be our long-standing socialtraditions and norms are really just arbitrarily socially constructed. Herehe expands on the debunking tendecy of sociology to question our commonlyaccepted assumptions about the social world.

There are great examples ofhow society forms us internally and surrounds us externally. Bergerdemonstrates the different sociological perspectives as well as touchinglightly on the differnt theorists (Durkheim, Weber, Simmel, etc.). Inshowing how one is boxed in by social forces, he uses a great metaphor of aperson who stands in the center of concentric circles of social control(law, state, occupation, race, class, family, religion, etc.). Society alsoshapes us internally by providing systems of meaning, or ideologies, thathelp us make sense of the world.

He relates sociology not only to thesocial sciences but to the humanities and philosophy. The ethicalconsiderations for sociological research are looked at in"Sociological Machiavellianism". The overall theme is thatsociety limits freedom and individuals should question tradition bydebunking the established order. Easy and interesting, he makes sociologyrelevant to everyday life. ... Read more

Book Description
Highly respected for its quality scholarship and its focused, straightforward approach, Sociology: The Core covers the core sociological concepts with a brief, accessible presentation and at a very affordable price.As in previous editions, the functionalist, conflict, and interactionist perspectives are applied throughout the book, allowing students to develop a solid understanding of the major sociological perspectives and their applications to the topics covered.Completely updated, Sociology: The Core makes sociology come alive as a vital and exciting field, relates principles to real-world circumstances, and attunes students to the dynamic processes of our rapidly changing contemporary society. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A great Sociology college text.
I purchased this book for a university course in Sociology and can't recommend it enough. It's written in plain everyday language (no technical jargon) and all the concepts are explained simply yet in a way which naturally draws the student's/reader's attention and interest. My course was made easier and more interesting thanks to this book and the style in which it is written. Thanks to Michael Hughes and Carolyn Kroehler for such a well-written, interesting and innovative textbook. ... Read more

Book Description
SOCIOLOGY is truly a classic introductory text which introduces students to the methods and theories of sociology using Rodney Stark's hallmark "Over the Shoulder of a professional sociologist" approach, presenting sociology on a personal level. Stark describes what sociologists do and how they do it, focusing first on the questions they pose and how they search for and formulate their answers, and then moving on to study their answers and conclusions. In this way, he effectively explores themes, raising issues in a straightforward manner with historical accuracy and solid research. The text employs a unique feature titled "A Closer View," which illustrates seminal research studies to introduce students to the sociological imagination and the world around them. ... Read more