Social Things: An Introduction to the Sociological Life

by Charles Lemert

Once again, Lemert has revised and updated Social Things , a best seller that is admired by teachers, students, and parents for its riveting brilliance. In this edition, he challenges readers to appreciate the surprising story of how globalization requires even the most reluctant to engage with its strange effects. In a new and original chapter, “Global Things Queer the Social," Lemert unblushingly explains that globalization became a dominant force in everyday life at the very time when ordinary life was threatened by extraordinary human crises of poverty and disease. The new world order is queer in more ways than one. It forces us to rethink social taboos, including those on talk about sex and sexualities. As in its earlier editions, Social Things excites, disturbs, and instructs readers who wonder what “globalization” means to them and how their sociological competence can contend with the way it emboldens people to look at the world honestly.

Genres: Sociology, Nonfiction, School, College, Science, Theory

248 pages, Paperback

First published May 12, 1997

About the author

Charles Lemert (born 1937) is an American born social theorist and sociologist. Charles Lemert is University Professor and John C Andrus Professor of Social Theory Emeritus at Wesleyan University and Senior Fellow of the Center for Comparative Research at Yale University. He is the author and editor of many books.

Reviews

[Yusuf Murteza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Evaluation (v.1.0)

1 .Writing Style :
2 .Reading Accuracy :
3. Dividings of the Chapters :
4. Arguments :
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1. Using historical and especially every day examples , Lemert does really great . That is important if you are looking for not dry introduction to sociology textbook. It pushes you to analyse what things the way they are and how to change and do something about it .
2. Relates with the argument part of the evaluation , I need to say that some parts of the book , the readers would find it harder to move on . Even though Lemert argues that every book has its logic that shows the reader how to deal with the arguments in the very beginning of the book , he loses the logic he established his mind . The reader would expect more logic but not find so.
3. Especially , Lemert's dividings of the book seem very useful . How sociology relates our practical life and how sociology came into existence as a social science discipline dealt in the first two parts of the book . What we understand from social things and global things as the last two parts is less efficient .
4. After finishing the reading , the readers would appreciate that what Lemert wants to state. That is all right. But for me in global things part of the book , and couple from social things , I found the arguments presented not clear , well designed even though the author adopted less dry and more story perspective. I expected more sound discussions when it comes to environmental problems.
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Writing Style : 1 point
Reading Accuracy : 0.5 point
Dividings of the Chapters : 0.5 point
Arguments : 0.5 point
Summary : 2.5 + 1 = 3.5 out of 5

[Alyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

In my Introduction to Sociology class, the professor found herself dryly stating that "no, this isn't an applied psychology class, this is a sociology class. Different subjects." And yet, people kept conflating the two as if they were synonymous. Since then, I have taken a few classes on sociology, but I am not an expert by any means.
This book is an introduction to sociology, told in such a way that is easier to grasp for a beginner. Lemert, a now-retired professor of sociology, uses his own life examples to explain both the history of sociology as well as key sociological concepts.
One of the things that I really enjoy about sociology is that it gives one the tools to understand a collective group, and how such a collective forms in the first place. It explains larger structures of society, but also allows one to reflect on how these overarching structures dictate even the smallest things in our lives that we believe we have control over.
I did enjoy Lemert's book, though I wish he would've gone into more depth at times. Overall, it's a fine introduction and was very useful.

[Algernon · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amiable overview of sociology broadly, including some of the history and methodologies of the profession and the academic discipline, but also non-professional ways of perceiving and discussing invisible social forces that situate us, constrain our choices, and guide the consequences of our actions.

An overview this sweeping cannot be perfect. In particular, I think Lemert's characterization of Marx's work is a caricature, but on balance I found this helpful.

[Travis Ammons · Rating 5 out of 5]

read this if you've never been able to take a sociology course, it's short, concise & expertly written with a nonjudgmental pen that is both clever & poignant. Informative would be a understatement if epic proportions.

By the way, why the fuck don't they teach us this shit in 7th grade???

[Wally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dr. Lemert is teaching my Cultural Analysis I class this semester. He is an incredible character with an eloquent writing style.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been reading this one for over ten years - it just keeps getting more meaningful with each read. Highly recommend it.

[Emi えみ Takami 鷹見 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for my SOC 100 class!