San Antonio College Library

In "The Sociology of Religion", Max Weber looks at the significant role religion has played in social change throughout history. The book was a formative text of the new discipline of sociology and has gone on to become a classic in the social sciences. -- From product description.

"The culmination of a distinguished career, this exhilarating book offers an invitation to see the world with a sociologist's eye. Eminent sociologist Kai Erikson describes the field of sociology as a way of looking at the world rather than a simple gathering of facts. He notes that sociologists approach the same human scenes as poets, historians, economists, and other observers of our social landscape with emphasis on distinct aspects of that vast...

"This lucid and lively book, punctuated with witty, incisive examples, is addressed both to the layman who wants to know what sociology is all about -- and to students and sociologists who are concerned over the larger implications and dimensions of their discipline. The author views sociology in the humanist tradition and recognizes it as a 'peculiarly modern, peculiarly timely form of critical thought.' Without underestimating the importance of...

"The concept of 'social capital' is currently the focus of an explosion of interest in the research and policy community. It refers to the social networks, informal structures and norms that facilitate individual and collective action. This explosion of interest is driven by a growing body of evidence that social capital has enormous effects on economic growth, health, crime and even the effectiveness and functioning of governments. David Halpern...

"Postcolonial theory has enjoyed wide influence in the humanities but for social science, and in particular sociology, its implications remain elusive. This special volume brings together leading sociologists to explore the concept of "postcolonial sociology," with brand new postcolonial readings of canonical thinkers like Karl Marx, Max Weber, Emile Durkheim and Robert Park. Chapters consider whether or not postcolonial theory is compatible with...

"An activist calls for better support of young families so they can thrive and reflects on her experiences as a Black mother and college student fighting for opportunities for herself and her child. Pregnant Girl presents the possibility of a different future for young mothers--one of success and stability--in the midst of the dismal statistics that dominate the national conversation. Along with her own story as a young Black mother, Nicole Lynn Lewis...

Drawing on studies of social class, crime and deviance, work in bureaucracies, and changes in religious and political organizations, this book explores the tension between the individual's role in society and society's role in shaping the individual, and demonstrates the value of sociology as a perspective for understanding the modern world.--From book flap.