Jeffrey C. Alexander is the Lillian Chavenson Saden Professor of
Sociology at Yale University, where he is co-director of the Center
for Cultural Sociology. Among his many influential books is The
Civic Sphere (Oxford University Press, 2006). He is also co-editor
of the Yale Cultural Sociology Series (Paradigm Publishers).
Kenneth Thompson, Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the Open
University, has held positions at Yale, UCLA, Rutgers, and Smith.
He is the author of Moral Panics (Routledge, 1998).
Laura Desfor Edles received her doctorate in Sociology from UCLA.
Dr. Edles has published articles on race and ethnicity in cultural
sociology, and is the co-author (with Scott Appelrouth) of
Sociological Theory in the Classical Era. She teaches sociology at
California State University, Northridge.
PRAISE FOR THE FIRST EDITION:
“Treats sociology as a living, vibrant discipline. The book is a
masterful synthesis written in a style that is at once
sophisticated, engaging, and accessible. I can think of no better
way to introduce my students to the discipline.”
—Peter Kivisto, Augustana College
“Alexander and Thompson have produced the modern textbook we have
all been waiting for—comprehensive and coherent, but above all
intelligent. Designed to make teaching sociology unproblematic, the
book is the ideal combination of theory, evidence, and
accessibility.”
—Bryan S. Turner, editor of The Cambridge Dictionary of
Sociology
“Sets new standards in speaking directly to students of the most
significant recent developments in sociology and social changes
they are living. It shows how inspiring the sociological
imagination can be in areas like media, sexuality, gender
relations, inequality, and globalization.
—Lyn Spillman, University of Notre Dame
“A truly contemporary sociology, one that mines the classics of
sociology for insights into a profoundly changed, postmodern world.
Most important, the book reminds us of sociology’s capacity to
surprise.”
—Francesca Polletta, University of California–Irvine
“An extraordinary textbook that synthesizes a wealth of
sociological studies. The book is engaging and readable, key
concepts are clearly defined, and important theories are succinctly
explicated. I highly recommend it to students and faculty
alike.”
—William Julius Wilson, Harvard University
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