Social Theory, Volume II: From Modern to Contemporary Theory, Third Edition - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1442607386 ISBN 13: 9781442607385

Publisher: University of Toronto Press, 2014

Synopsis

The third edition of this popular reader reflects considerable changes. The framework for understanding theory as a set of conversations over time is maintained and deepened, but Volume II now begins with a focus on key transitional theorists who helped reconceive of classical theory in new ways. Extending from the classical tradition, chapters on race, gender, culture, media and globalization show how contemporary theory builds on the past even as it moves in new directions. New contextual and biographical materials surround the primary readings, and each chapter includes a study guide with key terms, discussion questions, and innovative classroom exercises. The result is a fresh and expansive take on social theory that foregrounds a plurality of perspectives and reflects contemporary trends in the field, while being an accessible and manageable teaching tool.

About this title

About the Author:

Roberta Garner is Professor of Sociology at DePaul University in Chicago. She is the author of The Joy of Stats: A Short Guide to Introductory Statistics in the Social Sciences, Second Edition (2010). She teaches courses on theory, research design, statistics, and Greek mythology.
Black Hawk Hancock is Associate Professor of Sociology at DePaul University in Chicago. He is the co-author with Roberta Garner of Changing Theories: New Directions in Sociology (2009) and author of American Allegory: Lindy Hop and the Racial Imagination (2013).

Review:

At a time when even some 'contemporary' theories are getting old, Garner and Hancock have given us something new: a reader that resists oversimplification and shows students the living relationships between classical and contemporary theory. The sheer number of authors presented here is impressive, and would be daunting if the organization of the book was not so ingenious. As a bonus, pedagogical materials at the end of each chapter help instructors to help their students become a part of these theoretical dialogues. (David Yamane, Wake Forest University)

Garner and Hancock offer a selection of readings that are well chosen and wide reaching, providing theoretical materials which reflect the continuing relevance of the classics and the contemporary expansion of the discipline, but which also transcend strict disciplinary boundaries. Social Theory is an excellent resource for undergraduate and graduate instruction alike. (Claire Laurier Decoteau, University of Illinois, Chicago)

Social Theory: A Reader is a sweeping review of sociological thought like no other. (Jonathan R. Wynn, University of Massachusetts, Amherst)

This collection offers a dynamic juxtaposition of original text, biography, history, and practice-based exercises that allow readers to become apprentice-theorists, able to navigate the complex and contested meanings and mechanisms of society. Garner and Hancock's revised edition is an indispensable tool for teacher and student alike. (Erin O'Connor, Marymount Manhattan College)

In this new edition, Garner and Hancock have established a forum for effective and productive learning, offering an exemplary balance between a comprehensive text that facilitates students' ability to read original statements, and a compendium of essential readings. (Preston Rudy, San Jose State University)

About this edition

• Publisher: University of Toronto Press
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1442607386
• ISBN 13: 9781442607385
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 336
• Editor: Garner Roberta, Hancock Black Hawk