What You Can Learn from The Practical Skeptic: Readings in Sociology - A Comprehensive Review
The Practical Skeptic: Readings in Sociology - A Review
If you are looking for a comprehensive and engaging introduction to sociology, you might want to check out The Practical Skeptic: Readings in Sociology by Lisa J. McIntyre. This book is a collection of classic and contemporary sociological writings that illustrate the core concepts and methods of the discipline. In this article, I will review the main features, benefits, and organization of the book, and explain who should read it.
the practical skeptic readings in sociology pdf
What is The Practical Skeptic?
The Practical Skeptic: Readings in Sociology is a book that aims to help readers develop a sociological imagination, which is the ability to see how personal troubles are connected to public issues and social structures. The book also teaches readers how to conduct and evaluate sociological research, and how to apply sociological insights to everyday life.
The main features of the book
Some of the main features of the book are:
It includes 49 readings from various sources, such as books, journals, magazines, newspapers, and websites.
It covers a wide range of topics, such as culture, socialization, deviance, social problems, social institutions, social change, and social movements.
It provides introductions and discussion questions for each reading to help readers understand and analyze the main arguments and evidence.
It offers a glossary of key terms and concepts at the end of each part.
It is accompanied by a companion website that provides additional resources and activities for students and instructors.
The benefits of reading the book
Some of the benefits of reading the book are:
It exposes readers to diverse perspectives and voices from different sociologists and social groups.
It challenges readers to think critically and creatively about social issues and phenomena.
It encourages readers to reflect on their own experiences and assumptions in relation to sociological theories and findings.
It inspires readers to explore further topics and questions that interest them in sociology.
How is The Practical Skeptic organized?
The Practical Skeptic: Readings in Sociology is organized into six parts, each focusing on a major theme or dimension of sociology. Each part contains several readings that illustrate different aspects or perspectives on that theme or dimension.
The six parts of the book
Part 1: The Sociological Imagination
This part introduces the concept of the sociological imagination and shows how it can help us understand ourselves and our society better. It includes readings from C. Wright Mills, Stephanie Coontz, Lisa J. McIntyre, and others.
Part 2: The Research Craft
This part explains the methods and ethics of sociological research and demonstrates how sociologists collect and analyze data to answer their questions. It includes readings from Simon Davis, Gary Wyatt, Lisa J. McIntyre, Philip Meyer, and others.
Part 3: Culture
This part explores the concept of culture and how it shapes our beliefs, values, norms, and behaviors. It also examines how culture varies across time and space, and how it influences social interactions and conflicts. It includes readings from Clyde Kluckhohn, Horace Miner, Cheryl Laz, Laurie Scheuble, David R. Johnson, Elijah Anderson, William T. Bielby, and others.
Part 4: Social Structure
This part analyzes the concept of social structure and how it organizes our social relationships and roles. It also investigates how social structure affects our identity, agency, and opportunities. It includes readings from Erving Goffman, Adrian F. Aveni, Philip G. Zimbardo, Greta Foff Paules, Natalie Adams, Pamela Bettis, Harvey Molotch, and others.
Part 5: Social Institutions and Socialization
This part examines the concept of social institutions and how they regulate and coordinate various aspects of social life. It also explores the concept of socialization and how it shapes our personality, attitudes, and skills. It includes readings from Steven Brint, Mary F. Contreras, Michael T. Matthews, Blake E. Ashford, Glen E. Kreiner, Gwynne Dyer, Thomas J. Schmid, Richard S. Jones, Lynn Zimmer, Patti A. Giuffre, Christine L. Williams, and others.
Part 6: Deviance and Social Control
Patricia A. Adler and Peter Adler -- 31. The social construction of drug scares / Craig Reinarman -- 32. The medicalization of deviance / Peter Conrad -- 33. The social construction of sexuality / Steven Seidman -- 34. The invention of heterosexuality / Jonathan Ned Katz -- 35. The power elite / C. Wright Mills -- 36. The iron law of oligarchy / Robert Michels -- 37. The functions of social conflict / Lewis A. Coser -- 38. The tragedy of the commons / Garrett Hardin -- 39. Collective behavior : the normal side of social deviance / Ralph H. Turner, Lewis M. Killian -- 40. Resource mobilization and social movements : a partial theory / John D. McCarthy, Mayer N. Zald -- 41. The animal rights crusade : the growth of a moral protest / James M. Jasper, Dorothy Nelkin -- 42. The women's movement : persistence through transformation / Verta Taylor -- 43. The rise and fall of the American environmental movement : the reformist response to industrial capitalism / Riley E. Dunlap, Angela G. Mertig -- 44. The new urban sociology meets the old : re-reading some classical human ecology / Mark Gottdiener -- 45. McDonaldization revisited : critical essays on consumer culture / Mark Alfino, John S. Caputo, Robin Wynyard -- 46. Globalization : its nature and its consequences for sociology / Roland Robertson -- 47. Jihad vs. McWorld / Benjamin R. Barber -- 48. Globalization and September 11th / Saskia Sassen -- 49. Globalization from below : toward a democratic global commons / Jackie Smith.
The types of readings in the book
Classic sociological writings
Some of the readings in the book are classic sociological writings that have shaped the development and direction of the discipline. These writings are from influential sociologists such as Émile Durkheim, C. Wright Mills, Erving Goffman, Robert Merton, and others.
Contemporary sociological research
Some of the readings in the book are contemporary sociological research that illustrate how sociologists use various methods and theories to study current social issues and phenomena. These readings are from recent sociological journals, books, and reports that cover topics such as family, gender, race, class, crime, media, environment, globalization, and others.
Who should read The Practical Skeptic?
Students of sociology
The book is designed for students who are taking introductory courses in sociology or related fields. It provides a comprehensive overview of the main concepts and perspectives in sociology, as well as examples of how they can be applied to real-world situations.
Teachers of sociology
The book is also useful for teachers who are looking for a text that can supplement their lectures and assignments in sociology or related fields. It offers a variety of readings that can stimulate discussion and debate among students, as well as questions and exercises that can test their comprehension and critical thinking skills.
Anyone interested in sociology
The book is also accessible and interesting for anyone who wants to learn more about sociology and how it can help us understand ourselves and our society better. It offers a rich and diverse selection of readings that can challenge our assumptions and broaden our perspectives on social issues and phenomena.
Conclusion
The Practical Skeptic: Readings in Sociology is a book that provides a sociological examination of deviance and social control in society. It includes classic and contemporary sociological writings that illustrate the core concepts and methods of the discipline, as well as how they can be used to analyze and address social problems and change.
The book is organized into six parts that cover the major themes and dimensions of sociology: the sociological imagination, the research craft, culture, social structure, social institutions and socialization, and deviance and social control.
The book is suitable for students, teachers, and anyone interested in sociology who want to develop a sociological imagination and learn how to conduct and evaluate sociological research.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about the book and their answers:
Where can I find the book?
You can find the book online at https://archive.org/details/practicalskeptic0000unse or https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/perspectives-on-deviance-and-social-control/book259229. You can also order a print copy from Amazon or other online retailers.
Who is the author of the book?
The author of the book is Lisa J. McIntyre, who is a professor of sociology at Washington State University. She has written several other books and articles on sociology, such as The Public Defender: The Practice of Law in the Shadows of Repute and The Practical Skeptic: Core Concepts in Sociology.
What is the difference between this book and The Practical Skeptic: Core Concepts in Sociology?
This book is a collection of readings that complement the core concepts and theories presented in The Practical Skeptic: Core Concepts in Sociology. The latter book is a textbook that provides a concise and student-friendly introduction to the main ideas and perspectives in sociology.
How can I use this book for my sociology course?
You can use this book as a main or supplementary text for your sociology course, depending on your syllabus and objectives. You can assign specific readings that match the topics and themes you want to cover, or you can let your students choose readings that interest them. You can also use the questions and exercises in the book to assess your students' understanding and application of sociological concepts and methods.
How can I use this book for my personal interest?
You can use this book as a source of information and inspiration for your personal interest in sociology. You can read the readings that appeal to you, or you can follow the order of the parts and chapters in the book. You can also use the questions and exercises in the book to test your own knowledge and skills in sociology.
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