Sociology - General & Miscellaneous, Social History - General & Miscellaneous, Sociology - History, Social Philosophy

Illuminating Social Life

Name: Illuminating Social Life
Author: Peter Kivisto
ISBN: 9780761985150

by Peter Kivisto

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Overview

Illuminating Social Life has enjoyed increasing popularity with each edition. Editor Peter Kivisto attempts to bridge the gap between social theory and the substantive courses contained in the sociology curriculum. It is the only book designed for undergraduate teaching that shows today’s students how classical and contemporary social theories can be used to shed new light on such topics as the internet, the world of work, fast food restaurants, shopping malls, alcohol use, body building, sales and service, and new religious movements. This Fourth Edition is updated and revised to help students appreciate the relevance and the significance of social theory - and in the process reduces the anxiety many feel about required theory courses.

New to the Fourth Edition -Addresses new issues: Two new chapters contribute to the immediacy and accuracy of the text for today’s student: Chapter 11: Contrasts of Carnival: Mardi Gras Between the Modern and Postmodern and Chapter 12: Negotiating the Social Landscape to Create Social Change.
-Incorporates substantive changes: Material has been updated throughout with significant changes to Chapters 1, 3, 8, and 13.
-Includes more discussion questions: There are now five discussion questions instead of three per reading.
-Makes the content more accessible and relevant for students: 13 original essays written by current theorists illustrate the connection between research, theory, and issue.
-Offers substantial introductions by the Editor: These introductions help link the applied essays to a complete review of the classical and modern social theories used in the book.

Intended Audience
This text is a perfect complement for a standard theory text or other source materials for advanced undergraduate courses such as Sociological Theory and Classical and Contemporary Sociological Theory in departments of sociology.

About the Author, Peter Kivisto

Peter Kivisto, Ph D (New School for Social Research), is the Richard Swanson Professor of Social Thought and chair of sociology at Augustana College. Among his recent books are Citizenship: Discourse, Theory, and Transnational Prospects (2007, with Thomas Faist), Intersecting Inequalities (2007, with Elizabeth Hartung), Incorporating Diversity: Rethinking Assimilation in a Multicultural Age (2005), Key Ideas in Sociology (2nd ed., 2004), Multiculturalism in a Global Society (2002), and Social Theory: Roots and Branches (2nd ed., 2002). His primary scholarly and teaching interests revolve around social theory and ethnic and immigration studies. He has served as secretary-treasurer of the American Sociological Association’s Theory and International Migration Sections and is currently serving as Editor of The Sociological Quarterly.

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Editorials

Sally Raskoff

"I have adopted this book repeatedly. It is a fine addition to my theory course since it makes theory more accessible and relevant to students . . . Without this book, students are left with the impression that theory is an abstract academic exercise and a form of torture we impose on them. With this book, Kivisto offers students some evidence that theory is a tool to be used."

David Williamson

"Instead of only thinking about theory during class, I notice that Kivisto’s text gets them to think about theory at work, at home, reading the paper. . . . Sure, I dream of having an undergrad theory section in which students were already capable of rigorous abstract thought and analysis. In the real world, I find Kivisto’s approach essential to raising my students and moving them toward that ideal."