Class

Key Concepts (Polity)

by Will Atkinson

Class is not only amongst the oldest and most controversial of all concepts in social science, but also a topic which has fascinated, amused, incensed and galvanized the general public. But what exactly is a ‘class’? How do sociologists study and measure it, and how does it correspond to everyday understandings of social difference in the twenty-first century?  

In a time when inequality has dramatically returned to the social scientific and political agenda, this accessible and lively book explores these questions and more. It takes readers through the key theoretical traditions in class research, the major controversies that have shaken the field and the continuing effects of class difference, class struggle and class inequality across a range of domains. This new edition covers the latest research and scholarship and includes extended discussions of race, the rise of national populism, and the reconfigurations of class in a global age.

This book will appeal to students and scholars across the social sciences, and anyone wanting to get a handle on this provocative concept.

Genres: Sociology, Nonfiction

245 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 2, 2015

Reviews

[Piritta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for a course. I like reading about things on top of other things, because newer writings tend to look at older things from a different angle, sometimes even with grounded critique or re-framing the results. Not an easy book to read, because the language was a delightful mix of almost prose-like narration (with "or whatever"'s a couple of times) and highly abstract academic jargon.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read curriculum before exam < read curriculum after exam

Spoiler: Atkinson is in love with Bordieu

[Hind Al-Qahtani · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very informative little book. The author is very talented in presenting ideas that belong to others and all the while presenting how they intersect, conflict and agree. He is very knowledgable in his field. I really enjoyed his style of writing. Class is not necessarily something I thought I would be interested in, but both this book and my current professor make it a very interesting and relevant topic for me. I hope to read more of his stuff. Recommended for anyone interested in class. This book is up to date ( I think, I´m a student though)