I saw this book in Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut. Having read it, now I know why.
This is a REAL introduction to sociology, not a watered-down or a misleading and confusing version. Sociology is the science that studies how the world actually works and operates. (And not everyone supposed to know that!?)
Here are a few quotes that I want to share:
"Furthermore modern complex societies, in contrast to simple societies, rest on abstract universalistic values. This is what distinguishes it from a simple society that depends on particularistic values, based on family, kin, tribe, caste or religion. Schools in modern societies are designed to promote uniformity, standardised aspirations and universalistic values. There are many ways of doing this. For example one can speak of ‘uniform dress for school children’. Can you think of other features that promote standardisation?"
"For the sociologists who perceive society as unequally differentiated, education functions as a main stratifying agent."
"Probably people have always felt some kind of identity with social groups of one form or another — for example, their family, clan or religious community. Nationalism, however, only made its appearance with the development of the modern state. Contemporary world is marked both by a rapid expansion of the global market as well as intense nationalist feelings and conflicts."
"Studying religion sociologically lets us ask questions about the relationship of religion with other social institutions. Religion has had a very close relationship with power and politics."
"Religion is not just a matter of the private belief of an individual but it also has a public character."
"A pioneering work by Max Weber (1864-1920) demonstrates how sociology looks at religion in its relationship to other aspects of social and economic behaviour. Weber argues that Calvinism (a branch of Protestant Christianity) exerted an important influence on the emergence and growth of capitalism as a mode of economic organisation."