Families As They Really Are

by Barbara J. Risman (Editor)

A fresh collection of original essays by leading scholars that focuses on how families operate in everyday what they are, how they work, and why they matter.
Families as They Really Are goes to the heart of the family values debate by reframing the question about families from “Are they breaking down?” to “Where are they going, how, and why?”

Essays in the book are not reprints; you won’t find them anywhere else. Each article is a new contribution to the research and theory about families, drawn from an interdisciplinary community of experts.

The four parts of Families as They Really Are focus on how we got to where we are today, what’s happening in relationships, youth in the 21st century, and the state of the gender revolution.

Genres: Sociology, Textbooks, Nonfiction

561 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2009

Reviews

[Rachel Nickens · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a good compilation with short chapters on the realities of 21st century families in America. Easily accessible for the curious general public, but also rigorous enough for classroom use. My only complaint is that the “voice” of many of the authors is lost in the editing to short summary chapters. Many of the authors write in a much more engaging fashion in their original books or articles.

[Jordan Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for a sociology class and really enjoyed the short essays that informed the readers about families and sex in the 21st century.
It is a textbook I plan on saving because it had so much information.

[Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was an interesting read, I had to read it for my Sociology of the Family class. Good stuff inside this book, worth reading.

[Susan Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a good book with excellent data but the layout of it is so clinical that your eyes start closing after reading a few paragraphs.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This textbook was composed of short essays on various topics regarding families. I enjoyed this format and the depth and scope of information presented much more than traditional textbooks.

[Tristan Bridges · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview of family studies and issues of family and inequality in the U.S. I'm using it in my 2000-level course right now. The best part of this text is that the chapters are so short and digestible. I think the editor had something to do with that. There's an incredible amount of (extremely accessible) information here. It's great for course adoption, but also for someone outside of sociology who wants to get a better idea how to interpret data on the family.

[Anna Collver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good psychology book highly recommended to anyone interested in improving their family life.

[Amanda W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the Family Sociology class I am taking and this book. It may have been required, but it had great essays to read!

[Mills College Library]

306.85097 F1981 2010

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reading! Covers many subjects.