Sociology: The Basics

The Basics

by Ken Plummer

A lively, accessible and comprehensive introduction to the diverse ways of thinking about social life, The Basics The reader is encouraged to think critically about the structures, meanings, histories and cultures found in the rapidly changing world we live in. With tasks to stimulate the sociological mind and suggestions for further reading both within the text and on an accompanying webpage, this book is essential reading for all those studying sociology, and those with an interest in how the modern world works.

Genres: Sociology, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Connie Tang · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I started reading this 'textbook', because I didn't know what sociology was, and no one really had an answer for me.

Now having finished the book, I understand why.

Sociology is the psychology of society, or rather, the social. And so much more than that, holy.

It's very interesting and fascinating, for sure. But I just wouldn't be able to study it. All the things that drive me crazy about studying philosophy: that it's so inherently subjective, that it differs according to each situation and that differentiation is essential, that it's not and never will be a fully unified discipline by its very definition, there is no fixed object and thus, no fixed discipline... it all applies to sociology as well.

Let me contrast. The quote on quote "hard" sciences (Bio/Chem/Phys) tries it best to boil it down to the simplest truth - the one that everybody anywhere, universally, agrees. It boils down to an unknown or an answer. Sociology, and other disciplines like it, studies by its complexities. There cannot be a simple answer. It adapts and changes according to who it's studied by, and when and where.

Very, extremely cool to read about. But very, extremely hard to study.

There were a key couple insight from the book that I wanted to record for perspective's sake:

1. We need history, science and art equally. History for unique understanding, science for objectivity and art for critical imagination - they all check the worst excesses of each other.

2. Anything and everything is part of the social, and the very notion of the social is multiple.

3. Thank god I'm not studying this extensively. (A course or two on sociology would be fine, but to study this for a longer period of time? I'd actually go insane.)

[مهند سنبل · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a great book, really simple but deep, it explains how sociology works , and it improves the sociological thinking, and give you some ideas of sociology theories in a simple way.

A must to read for beginners

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buona introduzione alla disciplina.

[Andre · Rating 3 out of 5]

While close to the first half of the book seems (to me) to be unnecessarily drawn-out, I find the heuristic frameworks which he provides to think about a single event in many different social ways quite insightful.

Also quite well-referenced, so further reading is a breeze. This is able to whet your sociological imagination, if you would tolerate it past the first half.