Public Sociology: An introduction to Australian society

by John Germov, Marilyn Poole

From the future of work to the nature of our closest relationships, how do we understand the links between our personal troubles and wider public issues in society today?

Now into its fourth edition, Public Sociology continues to highlight the relevance of a grounded sociological perspective to Australian social life, as well as encouraging students to apply a sociological gaze to their own lives and the communities in which they live.

Public Sociology presents a wide range of topics in a user-friendly and accessible way, introducing key theories and research methods, and exploring core themes, including youth, families and intimate relationships, class and inequality and race and ethnic relations. All chapters have been extensively revised to bring them up to date in a fast-changing social world, reflecting the latest sociological debates in response to changing lifestyles and evolving political landscapes. In addition to updated statistics and research findings, an expanded glossary and the latest citations to the scholarly literature, the text features a completely new chapter on gender and sexualities with expanded discussion of LGBTIQ+. This new edition also explores contemporary issues ranging from the #MeToo movement to marriage equality, fake news and 'alt facts'.

This is the essential sociological reference to help students make sense of a complex and challenging world.

NEW TO THE FOURTH EDITION:

* A new chapter on gender and sexualities and expanded discussion of intersectionality
* Exploration of the latest social issues including #MeToo, rising inequality, and the 'post-truth' age
* All chapters thoroughly revised and updated with the latest research
* Updated book website with extra readings, YouTube clips, and case studies
* A new feature, Visual Sociology, helps the reader analyse the power of visual messaging


'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, differences and inequalities, and social transformations.'
Jo Lindsay, Professor in Sociology, Monash University

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

Genres: Sociology, Nonfiction

614 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!!