Public Sociology: An introduction to Australian society

by John Germov

What is the connection between our personal troubles and underlying public issues?

Public Sociology focuses on the utility and relevance of a sociological perspective to every aspect of social life. The aim is to encourage in students the ability to critically reflect upon the forces - both local and global - shaping their own lives and the communities in which they live.

The previous two editions of Public Sociology have established the book as one of the most popular and accessible introductory sociology texts. The third edition has been thoroughly revised and updated to incorporate important themes in contemporary society including drug culture and digital technology. The authors reveal how the tools of sociological training and an empirically grounded sociological perspective are essential to understanding and engaging with contemporary Australian society.

NEW TO THE THIRD EDITION: three new chapters on the sociology of drugs, digital sociology, and the social determinants of health and illness; all chapters thoroughly revised and some expanded; expanded glossary and updated introductory vignettes; enhanced book website with extra readings, YouTube clips, and case studies.

'With a firm base in the richest traditions of the discipline and with a remarkably approachable format, this book offers an excellent introduction to a wide array of sociology's concerns, making it suitable for all Australian social science undergraduates.' - Gary Wickham, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, Murdoch University

'A sophisticated yet accessible introduction to social identities, difference and inequalities, and social transformations.' - Jo Lindsay, Associate Professor in Sociology, Monash University

'Sweeping and lucid... communicates with ease and simplicity.' - Professor Toni Makkai, Dean, College of Arts and Social Sciences, Australian National University

Genres: Sociology, Nonfiction

912 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Lexie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sociology is actually SO interesting! Loved this, the University course was excellent and I got high marks haha! This book definitely contributed to that it was incredibly useful and the information it gave was straightforward and direct to the point, easy to understand. Recommend this if you want to see many aspects of the world in a whole different light or understand many intensely interesting concepts such as globalisation, ethnicity, indigenous perspectives, class, consumption, race, etc, at least all in Australia... Oh but some of those thugs are in general across the world too.

8/10.

[Wing · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a lay reader (by trade, I am a medical doctor), I find this introductory undergraduate textbook highly enjoyable. As promised, it introduces sociological concepts—exploring how societal structures influence human behaviors and how our behaviors, in turn, sculpt society—and employs Australian examples to illustrate them. Emphasis is on discourse, debate, and theoretical framework. It's updated every few years (this being its fifth edition) and remains very contemporary. The historical backgrounds (i.e. so-called classical sociology canon) of the subject are also discussed, and their relevance and deficiencies are explained. Overall, it prioritizes breadth over depth, which is understandable, and provides ample food for thought to the engaged reader. The text also recommends numerous resources for further exploration. Its slight leftist bent does not diminish its comprehensiveness but does demand critical appraisal. But then, contestations of seemingly irresolvable contradictions are what define sociology, and indeed society itself.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

First two chapters are a great introduction to sociology, but as soon as it got into the third chapter of modern sociologists, that’s where the pit falls began and I had to skip that chapter. Moving along through the chapters to now eleven, much of the major information I knew. However, in saying that, much of the information though found through observations and data, some of the data seemed quite elitist and compartmentalising certain parts of society due to lifestyle choices.

This is a 3rd edition (2015) and does not look like it’s been update at all since the original or even 2nd edition was produced. A bit of a let down considering that this book is used as an introduction to social work at some universities, and while I am reading this for myself and not for university, on the most part, it’s actually quite a moderate read.

[Kerrie Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Society, Culture & Health (S5, 2017)

[Aust, 3rd ed, 2015]

Fabulous book, highly recommended. Ch 24 'A sociological toolkit' was of great assistance.

[Hannah Swinfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This provides a great introduction to sociological theories and theorists as well as the social aspects of everyday life.

[PRJ Greenwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illustrates its knotty subject more than adequately. This was a required textbook for university and I'll say it's nothing I would have read out of choice, but I'm glad I did as parts of it were eye-opening.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

doing sociology this semester, in case it wasn't obvious :P

[NuHunni]

gahhh?!?!? why did i choose sociology -_-

i literally have read ALMOST all of the 490pg THICK ASSS BORING ASS textbook!!!! now hope i do it gets paid off on my exam!!