Understanding Social Theory

by Derek Layder

Accessible and authoritative, this jargon-free textbook provides an introduction to the central issues in modern social theory. The book offers the reader a comprehensive and up-to-date guide to social theory,with the following key it is organized around core dualisms in social theory, focusing the individual and society; agency-structure; and macro-micro. It offers a balanced account of the contribution that major social theorists have made to our understanding of these issues, covering the ideas of : Parsons, Foucault, Giddens, Elias, Habermas and others. The ideas of individual theorists are explained within the context of different perspectives, including symbolic interactionism, phenomenolog

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology

240 pages, Paperback

First published March 31, 1994

Reviews

[Minäpäminä]

Probably the most comprehensive, concise and lucid social theory text book I've encountered so far. Highly recommended, but two features left me wondering. 1) Since the book is so rigidly organized around the dualities of individual-society, agency-structure and micro-macro, what would an introduction to social theory without this structure look like? Don't get me wrong, this was all well and good, I'm just wondering if it's the best way of approaching the subject. But this isn't really a criticism, just something to consider. 2) It did feel a bit hokey that Layder spent the last chapter laying out the superiority of his own theory. Imagine you're in a strange town and ask a local to recommend you a restaurant and they say: "They're all shit except the one I own."

[Jaana]

Clearly written despite the rather abstract topic.