McDonaldization: The Reader

by George Ritzer (Editor)

This companion to the bestselling The McDonaldization of Society includes a selection of articles and excerpts that focus on the application and extension of the idea of McDonaldization to a wide range of social phenomena, issues, and settings, including the church, state, theme parks, mountain climbing, the sex industry, the family, the police, higher education, the Internet, and more. With an eye on the events of 9/11/01 and after, this accessible collection provides insights into the way McDonaldization is affecting cultures around the world, the ways in which it does or does not adapt to particular cultures, and various social movements from around the globe that have emerged in opposition to McDonaldization. The book is organized into the following three sections with a concluding essay that reflects on the future of The Reader is designed for use with or without The McDonaldization of Society and is an ideal supplemental text for a multitude of courses including introductory sociology; social problems; sociology of organizations, institutions, and structures; social change; sociological theory; sociology of work; economic sociology; sociology of consumption; American studies; and popular culture.

Genres: Sociology, Nonfiction, Academic, Cultural, Economics, Politics, Business

288 pages, Paperback

First published February 19, 2002

About the author

George Ritzer is Distinguished University Professor at the University of Maryland. He has named at Distinguished-Scholar Teacher at Maryland and received the American Sociological Association’s Distinguished Contribution to Teaching Award. Among his academic awards are an Honorary Doctorate from La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia; Honorary Patron, University Philosophical Society, Trinity College, Dublin; and the 2012-2013 Robin William Lectureship from the Eastern Sociological Society. He has chaired four Sections of the American Sociological Association- Theoretical Sociology, Organizations and Occupations, first Chair of Global and Transnational Sociology, and the History of Sociology.
His books have been translated into over twenty languages, with over a dozen translations of The McDonaldization of Society alone.

Reviews

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

McDonaldization is a really cool analysis of contemporary society, and definitely relevant-- the way Ritzer presents this reader is a little frustrating, though. He gives himself little blurbs to disclaim any section of the reader that disagrees with his ideas before the section! So frustrating. That man is self obsessed.

[Umitri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bence Weber’in ‘büyübozumu (disenchantment) konseptinin en güzel yorumlaması. Rakamlara indirgenen bir hayat, içi boşaltılmış. ‘Amacın’ İnsan olması gereken bir dünyada, ‘araç’ haline gelen insanı anlatıyor. Durkheim’in ‘collective effervesence’ ı imdada yetişir mi bilemeyiz ama Taylor’un ya da Henry Ford’un hattındaki işçiden daha iyi durumda değiliz..

[Alan Valdez · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was interesting, but it was also a bit redundant after reading the original "The McDonaldization of Society". Lots of short, self-contained perspectives and examples about different aspects of McDonaldization, which could come handy if I was to give a course on the subject. I guess that is the point of a reader, but it does not particularly contribute to greater insights about the subject.

[Astrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

The McDonaldization of Society