Publisher's Synopsis
This boxed set contains the 3rd edition of Sociology and its accompanying introductory reader. Sociology has established itself as the leading textbook in the field. The book has been acclaimed across the world for its lucidity, comprehensiveness and accessibility. The second edition of the text has been extensively revised and contains much new material. Throughout the book an effort has been made to secure the very latest empirical data and to present it in an attractive and involving way.
As in the first edition, the author includes a diversity of areas of discussion which barely figure at all in other introductory texts in sociology. The book contains, for example, extended analyses of the 1989 revolutions in Eastern Europe and Russia, the upsurge of new forms of nationalism and ethnicity, the debate over the ′end of history′ – as well as covering all the more orthodox areas of sociological work.
It is strongly comparative and accentuates the essential importance of globalizing influences upon social life. Combining originality, liveliness and accuracy, the second edition of this major text is indispensable reading for anyone wanting to gain an informed understanding of the nature of modern societies today.
The boxed set also includes the thoroughly revised and updated edition of the best–selling introductory reader in sociology. This book offers a comprehensive, yet challenging set of readings for students approaching the study of sociology for the first time. A strong emphasis has been placed upon readability and liveliness. The volume includes contributions from newspapers and weekly periodicals, as well as from academic journals. It is designed as a companion to Giddens′s Sociology, but can also be used independently, or alongside other textbooks.
The reader maintains the distinctive approach which Sociology pioneered. It is strongly comparative in emphasis and stresses the influence of globalizing trends in social life. In addition, it includes a diverse range of material relevant to the institutions of British society. The readings range from studies of face–to–face interaction through to the analysis of large–scale global systems.
There are many new sections in this collection, including those on the sociology of the body, media and popular culture, and the sociology of education. The readings are broken up into different sections and each section is preceded by a summary of the materials, in order to maximize ease of comprehension on the part of students. The result is a text that is both exceptionally accessible yet also easy to follow. Sociology: Introductory Readings will be an essential resource for anyone who wishes to acquire a basic understanding of the scope of sociological thought today.
