Down to Earth Sociology: 14th Edition: Introductory Readings, Fourteenth Edition

Front Cover
Simon and Schuster, Feb 13, 2007 - Political Science - 588 pages
For thirty-five years and through thirteen editions, Jim Henslin's Down to Earth Sociology has opened new windows onto the social realities that shape our world. Now in its fourteenth edition, the most popular anthology in sociology includes new articles on our changing world while also retaining its classic must-read essays. Focusing on social interaction in everyday life, the forty-six selections bring students face-to-face with the twin projects of contemporary sociology: understanding the individual's experience of society and analyzing social structure.

The fourteenth edition's exceptional new readings include selections on the role of sympathy in everyday life, mistaken perceptions of the American family, the effects of a criminal record on getting a job, and the major social trends affecting our future. Together with these essential new articles, the selections by Peter Berger, Herbert Gans, Erving Goffman, Donna Eder, Zella Luria, C. Wright Mills, Deborah Tannen, Barrie Thorne, Sidney Katz, Philip Zimbardo, and many others provide firsthand reporting that gives students a sense of "being there." Henslin also explains basic methods of social research, providing insight into how sociologists explore the social world. The selections in Down to Earth Sociology highlight the most significant themes of contemporary sociology, ranging from the sociology of gender, power, politics, and religion to the contemporary crises of racial tension, crime, rape, poverty, and homelessness.

From inside the book

Contents

THE SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
1
What Is Sociology? Comparing Sociology and
8
The Promise C Wright Mills
20
DOING SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
29
How Sociologists Do Research James M Henslin
35
Convicted Rapists
48
Would You Hire an ExConvict? Devah Pager
63
Doing Research with Streetcorner Crack Dealers
73
The Saints and the Roughnecks William J Chambliss
299
The Pathology of Imprisonment Philip G Zimbardo
315
What is normal?
322
SOCIAL INEQUALITY
335
The Importance of Being Beautiful Sidney Katz
341
Fraternities and Rape on Campus Patricia Yancey Martin
349
Showing My Color Clarence Page
360
The Racist Mind Raphael Ezekiel
369

THE CULTURAL CONTEXT OF SOCIAL LIFE
83
Doing Fieldwork Among the Yanomamö
92
The Sounds of Silence Edward T Hall Mildred R Hall
109
Sympathy in Everyday Life Candace Clark
118
The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life Erving Goffman
135
SOCIALIZATION AND GENDER
147
Reflections of a Sociologist
161
Lessons Learned in School
173
Sexuality and Gender in Childrens Daily Worlds
180
But What Do You Mean? Women and
192
SOCIAL GROUPS AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE
199
Religion and Morality in Weight Loss Groups
217
The Sociology of
229
The Lives of Homeless Women Elliot Liebow
242
Handling the Stigma of Handling the Dead
249
DEVIANCE AND SOCIAL CONTROL
265
The Survivors
277
Becoming a Hit Man Ken Levi
287
The Poor Pay All Herbert J Gans
376
Moving Up from the Working Class Joan M Morris
383
The U S Upper Class Stephen Higley
395
SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS
407
The American Family Stephanie Coontz
425
Giving Birth the American Way Robbie E DavisFloyd
432
Kindergarten as Academic Boot Camp Harry L Gracey
446
Indias Sacred Cow Marvin Harris
461
Police Accounts of Normal Force Jennifer Hunt
470
Anybodys Son Will Do Gwynne Dyer
481
SOCIAL CHANGE
493
Resisting social change
508
Women in the Military Laura L Miller
518
Caught Between the Ages William Van Dusen Wishard
535
Glossary
547
Correlation Chart
569
Subject Index
583
Copyright

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About the author (2007)

James M. Henslin is Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. He is the author of many textbooks, including Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach, 7th ed.; Essentials of Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach, 6th ed.; and Social Problems, 7th ed.

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