American Society: How It Really Works

by Erik Olin Wright, Joel Rogers

The definitive critical introduction to American society. In American How It Really Works , Erik Olin Wright and Joel Rogers ask several key What kind of society is America? How does it really work and why is it the way it is? In what ways does it need changing , and how can those changes be brought about? To answer these questions, Wright and Rogers identify five core social values that most Americans affirm in one way or freedom, prosperity, efficiency, fairness, and democracy. The authors then challenge readers to question to what degree contemporary American society actually lives up to these values and suggest how we might make progress in solving some of the social problems that confront America today.

Genres: Sociology, Nonfiction, Politics, School, Philosophy

576 pages, Paperback

First published July 8, 2010

About the author

Erik Olin Wright was an American analytical Marxist sociologist, specializing in social stratification, and in egalitarian alternative futures to capitalism. He was the (2012) President of the American Sociological Association.
Erik Olin Wright received two BAs (from Harvard College in 1968, and from Balliol College in 1970), and the PhD from University of California, Berkeley, in 1976. Since that time, he has been a professor of sociology at University of Wisconsin - Madison.
Wright has been described as an "influential new left theorist." His work is concerned mainly with the study of social classes, and in particular with the task of providing an update to and elaboration of the Marxist concept of class, in order to enable Marxist and non-Marxist researchers alike to use 'class' to explain and predict people's material interests, lived experiences, living conditions, incomes, organizational capacities and willingness to engage in collective action, political leanings, etc. In addition, he has attempted to develop class categories that would allow researchers to compare and contrast the class structures and dynamics of different advanced capitalist and 'post-capitalist' societies.

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored reading every word of this book. From the parts that felt like a battle cry, to the ones that read like my suicide note. What's awesome about being a sociology student is books like this that present situations and facts in a way that I can make the issues accessible to the people I love that may not have as much of an academeic background.

Even though, at times, it sways towards idealism and simplification, it can be a great springboard towards a more in-depth study of the issues at hand. I'm on a campaign to make everybody read this book and, if nothing else, rediscover a sense of civic duty and a reminder that the government is there to serve the people and we have a right to demand it of our political system.

Cheers,

-M-

[mary]

FINALLY DONE WITH THIS TEXTBOOK!!!!

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Built on a foundation of empirical evidence and theoretical analysis, the authors explore American principles of fairness, efficiency, and freedom, contrasting their idealization with the ways capitalism, inequality and democracy actually manifest to create social dilemmas that stand in opposition to these values. An engaging, well written sociological examination of US Society

[Brooke Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not recommend this more.

[Jack · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good analysis of how capitalism can be short of perfect.

[C Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Makes interesting topics dull. Tedious read. Merges the analytical and normative. Makes some good points.