Understanding Society: An Introductory Reader

by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim A. Logio, Howard F. Taylor

and modern readings that were handpicked for timeliness, diversity, and interest. Students across the country find the articles included to be easy to understand and intriguing. UNDERSTANDING SOCIETY: AN INTRODUCTORY READER, Third Edition, includes the most up-to-date selection available today. Out of 70 total articles, 60 percent are new in this edition. New topics include Internet dating, school shootings, gay marriage, immigration, single motherhood, globalization, video games, and religious diversity. As always, the editors have included the top names in the field. Five themes run throughout the text: classical sociological theory, contemporary research, diversity, globalization, and the application of the sociological perspective. In addition, new "Applying Sociological Knowledge" features help you bridge the gap between abstract knowledge and a concrete understanding.

571 pages, Paperback

First published August 22, 2000

About the author

Margaret Andersen is professor of Sociology and Women's Studies at the University of Delaware. She is the author of THINKING ABOUT WOMEN: SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES ON SEX AND GENDER; SOCIOLOGY: UNDERSTANDING A DIVERSE SOCIETY (with Howard F. Taylor); SOCIOLOGY: THE ESSENTIALS (with Howard F. Taylor); UNDERSTANDING SOCIETY: READINGS IN SOCIOLOGY (with Kim A. Logio and Howard F. Taylor); and SOCIAL PROBLEMS (with Frank R. Scarpitti and Laura L. O'Toole). She is the former president of the Eastern Sociological Society and has served as the editor of Gender and Society. She is the recipient of the University of Delaware's Excellence in Teaching Award and is one of three faculty members who recently received a grant from the Hewlett Foundation to transform undergraduate education through the development of new introductory level courses across the curriculum. She has recently served as Dean of the College of Arts and Science at the University of Delaware, where she is also the former Vice Provost for Academic Affairs. She currently serves as Acting Chair of the National Advisory Board for the Stanford University Center for Comparative Study in Race and Ethnicity.

Reviews

[Kai]

A well formatted text book with many interesting topics and sections that expand upon one another. I found it to be a very interesting read.

[Nathaniel Mathews]

As a collection of essays, Understanding Society is prone to inconsistency. Some excerpts are fantastic, while others are dry or fail to demonstrate anything groundbreaking or otherwise fundamental. The sheer breadth of understanding Anderson et al. provide is undoubtedly helpful, but there were times where I found myself wondering whether the time investment was worth the information included.