SOCI 1101: Sociology: Course Tools: Books

Broad in scope, this title offers non-specialists with insights into sociology topics that are often only accessible to academics and experts in the field in a format that should be readable and quickly retrievable. The volumes contain 90 articles.

Winston Davis, Wilson-Craven Professor of Religion at Southwestern University, is author of Dojo: Magic and Exorcism in Modern Japan.

From public transportation and education to adequate access to buildings, the social impact of disability has been felt everywhere since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. And a remarkable groundswell of activism and critical literature has followed in this wake. Claiming Disability is the first comprehensive examination of Disability Studies as a field of inquiry. Disability Studies is not simply about the variations that exist in human behavior, appearance, functioning, sensory acuity, and cognitive processing but the meaning we make of those variations. With vivid imagery and numerous examples, Simi Linton explores the divisions society createsthe normal versus the pathological, the competent citizen versus the ward of the state. Map and manifesto, Claiming Disability overturns medicalized versions of disability and establishes disabled people and their allies as the rightful claimants to this territory.

Almost without exception, the societies of the world are multiethnic. The decline of empires, the appearance of new states, the expansion of communication networks, demographic trends, the weakening of the legitimacy of state authority have brought ethnic relations into the spotlight. The purpose of this book is to develop analytic tools, concepts, perspectives that can be used in a wide variety of circumstances, contributing not only to our understanding, but also to humane policies. The author develops clear and reasonable usages for the central terms: ethnic group, nation, race, pluralism, assimilation, and dissimilation, among others. He documents the range of experiences covered in discussions of ethnicity. Ethnic differences are involved in some of the world s most intractable conflicts. They are also experienced as the source of the most satisfying and the most essential aspects of life."

Answers the question, "What can I do with a major in . . . ?" Students can explore their career options within their field of study using the Great Jobs series as their guide. From assessing individual talents and skills to taking the necessary steps to land a job, every aspect of identifying and getting started in a career choice is covered. Readers learn to explore their options, target an ideal career, present a major as an asset to a job, perfect a job search, and follow through and get results.

Explores the contributions to interpretive sociology of major Continental social theorists and examines the ways in which these individuals enrich our understanding of the art of being human.

This new edition of Allan G. Johnson's one-volume dictionary includes 75 new entries, as well as an expanded biographical section, extensive revisions and updates, and more thorough cross-referencing. Written by a sociologist who is also an accomplished writer and teacher, it should be of use to those looking for an introduction to core concepts in sociology. Its combination of clear prose, examples, a single author's voice, and its minimal assumptions about the average reader's prior knowledge of the field, makes this an accessible reference work.

Emphasis on measurement techniques can interfere with understanding how well particular social programs in their field work. In Making a Difference: The Practice of Sociology, Irwin Deutscher links traditional sociological concerns with applied sociology in an effort to overcome this problem. He contributes to the debate over the extent to which health, educational, and social pro­grams initiated by the Roosevelt, Kennedy, and Johnson administrations have been successful in intimate, hu­man terms. The work is divided into five parts: "Toward a Useful Sociology" is a collec­tion of essays concerning the causes of social problems and the uses of evalu­ation research. "On Doing Applied Re­search" explores research tools and ste­reotypes. 'The Raised Eyebrow" points out obstructions to useful program evaluation. "Vignettes" deals with spe­cific areas of social programs: public housing, aging, family, disaster relief, small town petty crime, the integration of public facilities, delinquency, nurs­ing, and the education of tribal people. Deutscher believes that the introduc­tion of a sociological perspective can provide a positive element to interdisci­plinary pursuits. This belief, as well as his fresh perspectives on both the strengths and limitations inherent in applied sociology, offer the field a revi­talizing lift. As such, this highly infor­mative, thought-provoking volume will be of interest to sociologists and policymakers in health, education, crime, welfare, housing.