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The Social Lens
An Invitation to Social and Sociological Theory
Third Edition
- Kenneth Allan - University of North Carolina at Greensboro, USA
May 2013 | 632 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
This fully updated edition of Kenneth Allan’s acclaimed social theory text emphasizes the diversity of classical and contemporary theory, critical thinking, and the importance of historical context. Chosen for the diversity of their perspectives and their suitability for introducing students to contemporary social thought, a wide variety of theorists appear in the text with their individual voices vividly intact. The author engages students in the historic and contemporary changes that have spawned diverse social theories and invites them to see theory as an element within a broader range of critical thinking skills that can be applied to current social problems.
Contributor to the SAGE Teaching Innovations and Professional Development Award
Find out more at www.sagepub.com/sociologyaward
Part I: Modernity and the Sociological Response
Chapter 1. On Theory
Chapter 2. The Evolution of Society: Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)
Chapter 3. Contradictions in Capitalism: Karl Marx (1818-1883)
Chapter 4. The Irrationality of Rationality: Max Weber (1864-1920)
Chapter 5. The Problem With Diversity: Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)
Chapter 6. The Modern Person: George Herbert Mead and Georg Simmel
Chapter 7. The Challenges of Gender and Race: Charlotte Perkins Gilman and W. E. B. Du Bois
Part II: Contemporary Sociological Theory
Chapter 8. Structural Functionalism: Talcott Parsons, Robert K. Merton, and Jeffrey C. Alexander
Chapter 9. Conflict Theory: Lewis Coser, Ralf Dahrendorf, and Randall Collins
Chapter 10: What Happened to Class? Erik Olin Wright, Daniel Bell, and Pierre Bourdieu
Chapter 11. Structures of Racial and Gender Inequality: William Julius Wilson and Janet Saltzman Chafetz
Chapter 12. Exchange Theory: George Homans, Peter Blau, and Randall Collins
Chapter 13. Self and Situation: Erving Goffman, R. S. Perinbanayagam, and Harold Garfinkel
Part III: Contemporary New Visions and Critiques
Chapter 14. Problems in Modernity: Jurgen Habermas and Anthony Giddens
Chapter 15. Globalizing Systems: Immanuel Wallerstein and Manuel Castells
Chapter 16. Upsetting Reality: Michel Foucault and Jean Baudrillard
Chapter 17. Politics of Identity: Dorothy E. Smith, Patricia Hill Collins, and Cornel West
References
Index
About the Author
An excellent, essential text for students in sociology!
biokinetics, sport and recreation, University of Pretoria
June 22, 2015
The Social Lens is a well-written and comprehensive text that explores theorists proposals regarding inequality. I would recommend this text for anyone seeking to develop a course in sociological theory that will provide a great overview of theories that are essential to the field of sociology. This text is easy to read and is complete with several tables and figures that provide a useful visual description of complex sociological concepts.
Sociology Dept, Portland State University
September 12, 2014
Sticking with Edles and Appelrouth, Sociological Theory in the Classical Era: Text and Readings.
Sociology Crim Just Anth Dept, Texas Christian University
August 24, 2014
This book provides excellent overviews of sociological theories, from the basic, consensus and conflict perspectives to their contemporary and more complex post modern understandings. The book would be most useful for A-level and first year undergraduate students, who are developing their critical thinking and evaluation skills.
Humanities, Bournville College of Further Education
August 12, 2014
Great critical thinking exercises, good organization and breadth of topics. The reading level was good for an undergraduate course.
Sociology , Texas A&M San Antonio
December 2, 2013
A text which is recommended as background reading for students.
Well written and clear.
social studies, Bedfordshire University
November 30, 2013
will be used with level 5 and 6 also
Faculty of Education and Society, Sunderland University
November 21, 2013
This book gives dissertation students an excellent review of the sociological theory they have studied in previous modules, allowing them the deeper insight and connection such a text brings
Dept of Social Sciences & Humanities, Bradford University
September 9, 2013
Excellent -- even better than the second edition! Easy to read, easy to use. I like the added piece on critical thinking and the exercises in critical thinking at the end of each chapter.
Family, Youth & Community Sciences, University of Florida
September 6, 2013
Good introduction and discussion of thinking sociologically
Sociology , Keele University
August 15, 2013
