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Criminological Theory: Past to Present: Essential Readings
Criminological Theory: Past to Present--Essential Readings,
Fourth Edition, offers the most comprehensive overview of classic and contemporary theories of crime.
Edited by leading scholars Francis T. Cullen and Robert Agnew, it presents a wide range of readings, including original theory pieces. A brief yet detailed introduction frames each Part (and each reading), providing students with a "road map" as they explore the ongoing intellectual developments, diverse views, and continuing debates in the field of criminological theory.
Building on the success of the third edition, the thoroughly updated and revised fourth edition includes:
* Eight new readings (each with its own introduction)
* Two new Parts (each with its own introduction): "Theories of White-Collar Crime" and "Putting Theory to Work: Guiding Crime Control Policy"
* A new Instructor's Manual on CD, featuring a Test Bank with multiple-choice and essay questions, learning objectives, key words, discussion topics and exercises, and PowerPoint lecture slides
Comprehensive enough for graduate students yet accessible enough for undergraduate students, Criminological Theory: Past to Present--Essential Readings, Fourth Edition, remains a solid introduction to the foundations of criminology--and to the competing theories that will shape thinking about crime in the years ahead.
Edited by leading scholars Francis T. Cullen and Robert Agnew, it presents a wide range of readings, including original theory pieces. A brief yet detailed introduction frames each Part (and each reading), providing students with a "road map" as they explore the ongoing intellectual developments, diverse views, and continuing debates in the field of criminological theory.
Building on the success of the third edition, the thoroughly updated and revised fourth edition includes:
* Eight new readings (each with its own introduction)
* Two new Parts (each with its own introduction): "Theories of White-Collar Crime" and "Putting Theory to Work: Guiding Crime Control Policy"
* A new Instructor's Manual on CD, featuring a Test Bank with multiple-choice and essay questions, learning objectives, key words, discussion topics and exercises, and PowerPoint lecture slides
Comprehensive enough for graduate students yet accessible enough for undergraduate students, Criminological Theory: Past to Present--Essential Readings, Fourth Edition, remains a solid introduction to the foundations of criminology--and to the competing theories that will shape thinking about crime in the years ahead.
672 pages, Paperback
Published March 19, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
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November 7, 2024Counting this towards my reading goal cuz it took up all my time.
December 18, 2014
For a textbook that I read front to cover for my criminology class, I actually enjoyed it. Mainly because the teacher was able to explain everything when the class couldn't understand, which really just means the language of the textbook was a little advanced, but not too much of a problem if you're used to extensive textbook reading.
April 1, 2016
The text provides an explaination of various theories of criminology, then provides excerpts of the text being discussed. This is a terrific resource providing key theories and highlights of publications for reference. the authors include highlights of the various studies and theories from the original authors. really a great reference for the bookshelf if you are studying the subject.
October 10, 2021
I didn't finish the class, so I didn't finish the whole book, but I read a lot of it. Honestly, this was really great because it had summaries of the movements and of each excerpt that was in there. It makes for a great textbook, especially for skimming summaries if there isn't time to read it all :)
August 9, 2022
very good crim textbook 🏃♀️
May 21, 2015
This is probably the first textbook I've ever read for school, cover to cover. (Plus extra.) Very insightful and fascinating. Of course, it helped that the class was extremely well taught because this book was not always a consistently easy read.
The book gives you all the important material regarding relevant and leading criminological theories, but allows for you to come your own conclusions about the validity or acceptability of the theories, especially in terms of what it would mean for crime prevention. I also liked that the textbook included not only summaries of the theories, but that it included the original (excerpts of the) theories.
The book gives you all the important material regarding relevant and leading criminological theories, but allows for you to come your own conclusions about the validity or acceptability of the theories, especially in terms of what it would mean for crime prevention. I also liked that the textbook included not only summaries of the theories, but that it included the original (excerpts of the) theories.
January 10, 2012
I read this for class. It a an excellent source for a foundation of theoretical knowledge. I intend to keep it and refer to it in the future.
April 24, 2017
As a textbook, this was great. Yes, it's redundant, but all the more helpful. The introductions beginning each chapter coupled with selection from ORIGINAL WRITINGS is a fantastic idea. It's everything I could've dreamed of for all of my psychology texts. Unfortunately this book within my criminal justice minor is the only taste I've gotten of this format.
I only had one problem with this text and that was the obvious liberal skew. Pretty sure Cullen and Agnew tried to destroy conservative theories of crime at every opportunity. The points they made against conservative theories were not wrong, in fact I agree profusely with them that most conservative theories are pretty ignorant, but they make no attempt to explain the details of these ideas or reveal any of the evidence that they *might* work. Persuasion only works when you can thoroughly explain and comprehend the ideas presenting on the opposing side, and the conservative theories were brushed over with little more than "there's little evidence to support this and look how much better this other theory is because it doesn't punish people." I think they overemphasized lack of punishment as a positive factor in certain theories. You can't expect every offender to be willing or attentive to rehabilitation programs or for at-risk youth to care about community involvement programs. They help, yes, but they're not the end-all-be-all of deterrence.
I only had one problem with this text and that was the obvious liberal skew. Pretty sure Cullen and Agnew tried to destroy conservative theories of crime at every opportunity. The points they made against conservative theories were not wrong, in fact I agree profusely with them that most conservative theories are pretty ignorant, but they make no attempt to explain the details of these ideas or reveal any of the evidence that they *might* work. Persuasion only works when you can thoroughly explain and comprehend the ideas presenting on the opposing side, and the conservative theories were brushed over with little more than "there's little evidence to support this and look how much better this other theory is because it doesn't punish people." I think they overemphasized lack of punishment as a positive factor in certain theories. You can't expect every offender to be willing or attentive to rehabilitation programs or for at-risk youth to care about community involvement programs. They help, yes, but they're not the end-all-be-all of deterrence.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews