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Living Sociologically: Concepts and Connections
Students are drawn to topics of urgent sociological concern--race, class, gender, family, popular culture, health, and crime--by a need to both understand the forces that shape their world, and their desire to make the world better. It can be challenging, however, for students to link sociological concepts with real-world applications. Living Sociologically: Concepts and Connections helps students make those connections.
Encouraging students to observe, explore, and think critically about the social world, Living Sociologically offers a new, class-tested framework for teaching introduction to sociology. The "paired concepts" approach demonstrates the interdependent ways in which social forces work, and encourages students to engage with complexity and contradiction. It also connects students to a broader set of questions and provides them with critical, analytical tools for their post-college lives.
In addition, each chapter includes an opening vignette, examples of contemporary research, box features that exemplify the five paired concepts, career boxes, methods and interpretation boxes, case studies, review sections, and practical activities.
Encouraging students to observe, explore, and think critically about the social world, Living Sociologically offers a new, class-tested framework for teaching introduction to sociology. The "paired concepts" approach demonstrates the interdependent ways in which social forces work, and encourages students to engage with complexity and contradiction. It also connects students to a broader set of questions and provides them with critical, analytical tools for their post-college lives.
In addition, each chapter includes an opening vignette, examples of contemporary research, box features that exemplify the five paired concepts, career boxes, methods and interpretation boxes, case studies, review sections, and practical activities.
592 pages, Paperback
Published December 6, 2019
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85 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 3, 2023
I enjoyed this textbook, because Prof. Cathy Miller and this book taught me about understanding social cues, behaviors, and norms, as well as types of deviance, incarceration, philosophers (e.g. Emilie Durkheim, etc.), etc.
For instance, microsociology refers to everyday conversations and interactions, whereas macrosociology refers to institutions, systems, and trends (Jacobs & Townsley pp. 12-13). Durkheim emphasized social facts (p. 26), while urbanization and the Democratic Revolution led to increased leisure and social gatherings due to increased factory efficiency (pp. 28-29). Marx argued that freedom was restricted by class differences, imploring and suggesting that the proletariat rebel against the elites (30).
Max Weber wanted theorists and scholars to let the public focus more on explaining situations rather than analyzing them too excessively (31). We all have collective representations of our identity groups and our affiliations of heritage and citizenship (33). Peer review is another important concept for civil society to empathetically and judiciously yet seriously and concertedly make sure sources and resources are up-to-date and have quality control (59).
A few other ideas that I think are essential for people to understand are the types of crimes that are real and can be disastrous, regardless of one's appearance, social standing, or talents. There are violent crimes (e.g. in regard to murder, shutting a car on your wife's leg like with Lily Petals on YouTube, guns and bullets, pushing and slapping, cutting and slicing, etc.), property crimes (in regard to cars, houses, clothes, objects, etc.), hate crimes (typically against ethnic, gender, disability status, veteran status, GDP/social status, or orientation groups), white-collar crimes (typically bribes), and cyber crimes (e.g. identity theft, hijacking personal data for nefarious purposes, scams, ransomware, Trojan horses and comparable bugs), among other ones (160-165).
Crimes also occur amongst marginalized groups who feel disenfranchised and misrepresented in politics, society, education, healthcare, and government enterprises. Rehabilitation and recovery are possible, as they were for Malala Yousafzai, but she, too, realized that her 2015 book publication would not be the end of terrorism, hate crimes, civil unrest, natural calamities, bullying, cancel culture, and STDs.
Later on in the book, I found this part interesting, too. Gender is another hot topic in today's world. Sex refers to the gender assigned at birth, but it is also intercourse between two people (regardless of gender), which may or may not result in the genesis of a fetus (246). Primary and secondary characteristics are there, the latter forming after puberty and the former are there immediately upon conception.
Behaviors, attitudes, attire, dialogue, friendships, habits, storytelling, voice pitch and tone, likes and dislikes, professions, hobbies, makeup or the lack thereof, and a variety of other factors go into the constitutionality, identity, and individuality of a person who then is molded into society and is improved upon day by day.
For instance, nurses are typically females, and teachers are, too, but this is not always the case. Additionally, girls tend to wear makeup, but this is not always the case. Girls typically like the colors purple and pink, but this is not always the case. Girls like to wear bikinis and high heels, but this is also not always the case. Guys go to the gym, but this is not always the case. Girls have high-pitched voices, but this is not always the case. Guys earn more money, but this is not always the case. Guys love cars and alcohol, but this is not always the case. Girls are more talkative, but this is not always the case. The list goes on and on.
Whether or not, however, it is possible to be passing and to be accepted and warmly received and congratulated as an alternative gender on the exterior to match one's interior is debatable and contested. Many times, there is no real ulterior motive to go about the medical diagnostic tests, drug therapies (e.g. estrogen or testosterone), surgeries (e.g. top or bottom surgery), wardrobe and makeup changes, social media and social presence changes, etc. other than being happy, confident, vibrant, and more motivated to succeed, thrive, and engage civilly and congenially and magnanimously with others--not out of arrogance, spite, clout, peer pressure, or biblical heresy.
However, some do express regrets upon going through this process--this transformative and perhaps irreversible process. In many ways, the process is more effective if done around the onset of puberty or slightly before that, which is part of some Olympic regulations, as well. Many celebrities, scholars, politicians, authors, and everyday citizens are deeply worried about children and the future of the nation, even though trans and non-binary individuals make up a small percentage of the total LGBTQ+ population and even though these individuals are at higher risk for mental health problems and physical and digital safety concerns.
We all hope to have a high life expectancy (345). Sierra Leone and Angola are noted by Ronald Jacobs and Eleanor Townsley as having low life expectancies: 50.1 and 52.4 respectively, whereas Switzerland and Japan have higher life expectancies: 83.4 and 82.7 years respectively. This is unfair of course, even though I am White and Japanese. I can sense how many young people and old people alike have done societal service of humanitarian proportions here and there, abroad or domestic, and that effort does not go unnoticed by God nor leaders. Still, it takes time for third-world countries to have a higher quality of life and standard of living.
Thank you for reading my review! This is a rather lengthy book, so I wanted to do justice for the terms, concepts, and theories embedded therewithin, especially as many of these academic concepts are relevant to Twitter spaces, Facebook groups, and group discussions.
For instance, microsociology refers to everyday conversations and interactions, whereas macrosociology refers to institutions, systems, and trends (Jacobs & Townsley pp. 12-13). Durkheim emphasized social facts (p. 26), while urbanization and the Democratic Revolution led to increased leisure and social gatherings due to increased factory efficiency (pp. 28-29). Marx argued that freedom was restricted by class differences, imploring and suggesting that the proletariat rebel against the elites (30).
Max Weber wanted theorists and scholars to let the public focus more on explaining situations rather than analyzing them too excessively (31). We all have collective representations of our identity groups and our affiliations of heritage and citizenship (33). Peer review is another important concept for civil society to empathetically and judiciously yet seriously and concertedly make sure sources and resources are up-to-date and have quality control (59).
A few other ideas that I think are essential for people to understand are the types of crimes that are real and can be disastrous, regardless of one's appearance, social standing, or talents. There are violent crimes (e.g. in regard to murder, shutting a car on your wife's leg like with Lily Petals on YouTube, guns and bullets, pushing and slapping, cutting and slicing, etc.), property crimes (in regard to cars, houses, clothes, objects, etc.), hate crimes (typically against ethnic, gender, disability status, veteran status, GDP/social status, or orientation groups), white-collar crimes (typically bribes), and cyber crimes (e.g. identity theft, hijacking personal data for nefarious purposes, scams, ransomware, Trojan horses and comparable bugs), among other ones (160-165).
Crimes also occur amongst marginalized groups who feel disenfranchised and misrepresented in politics, society, education, healthcare, and government enterprises. Rehabilitation and recovery are possible, as they were for Malala Yousafzai, but she, too, realized that her 2015 book publication would not be the end of terrorism, hate crimes, civil unrest, natural calamities, bullying, cancel culture, and STDs.
Later on in the book, I found this part interesting, too. Gender is another hot topic in today's world. Sex refers to the gender assigned at birth, but it is also intercourse between two people (regardless of gender), which may or may not result in the genesis of a fetus (246). Primary and secondary characteristics are there, the latter forming after puberty and the former are there immediately upon conception.
Behaviors, attitudes, attire, dialogue, friendships, habits, storytelling, voice pitch and tone, likes and dislikes, professions, hobbies, makeup or the lack thereof, and a variety of other factors go into the constitutionality, identity, and individuality of a person who then is molded into society and is improved upon day by day.
For instance, nurses are typically females, and teachers are, too, but this is not always the case. Additionally, girls tend to wear makeup, but this is not always the case. Girls typically like the colors purple and pink, but this is not always the case. Girls like to wear bikinis and high heels, but this is also not always the case. Guys go to the gym, but this is not always the case. Girls have high-pitched voices, but this is not always the case. Guys earn more money, but this is not always the case. Guys love cars and alcohol, but this is not always the case. Girls are more talkative, but this is not always the case. The list goes on and on.
Whether or not, however, it is possible to be passing and to be accepted and warmly received and congratulated as an alternative gender on the exterior to match one's interior is debatable and contested. Many times, there is no real ulterior motive to go about the medical diagnostic tests, drug therapies (e.g. estrogen or testosterone), surgeries (e.g. top or bottom surgery), wardrobe and makeup changes, social media and social presence changes, etc. other than being happy, confident, vibrant, and more motivated to succeed, thrive, and engage civilly and congenially and magnanimously with others--not out of arrogance, spite, clout, peer pressure, or biblical heresy.
However, some do express regrets upon going through this process--this transformative and perhaps irreversible process. In many ways, the process is more effective if done around the onset of puberty or slightly before that, which is part of some Olympic regulations, as well. Many celebrities, scholars, politicians, authors, and everyday citizens are deeply worried about children and the future of the nation, even though trans and non-binary individuals make up a small percentage of the total LGBTQ+ population and even though these individuals are at higher risk for mental health problems and physical and digital safety concerns.
We all hope to have a high life expectancy (345). Sierra Leone and Angola are noted by Ronald Jacobs and Eleanor Townsley as having low life expectancies: 50.1 and 52.4 respectively, whereas Switzerland and Japan have higher life expectancies: 83.4 and 82.7 years respectively. This is unfair of course, even though I am White and Japanese. I can sense how many young people and old people alike have done societal service of humanitarian proportions here and there, abroad or domestic, and that effort does not go unnoticed by God nor leaders. Still, it takes time for third-world countries to have a higher quality of life and standard of living.
Thank you for reading my review! This is a rather lengthy book, so I wanted to do justice for the terms, concepts, and theories embedded therewithin, especially as many of these academic concepts are relevant to Twitter spaces, Facebook groups, and group discussions.
August 7, 2020
Living Sociologically is truly an excellent textbook for anyone interested in Sociology. The language is pretty simple making it accessible to most folks. It spans a variety of topics, all extremely well researched and written, making you feel like you've learnt a lot but also making you curious to learn even more. Each concept has numerous examples making you go "Oh my gosh, I've literally seen that happening around me all my life"
January 18, 2023
Although not perfect, after a whole semester's practice, I would highly recommend it as a textbook for Intro to Sociology.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews