At the same time, the book advances an argument about our stage of civilization, joining dialogue with critical thinkers and theorists who bemoan the loss of community and civic discourse. These perspectives from critical theory and postmodernism can be introduced in readable, digestible ways, especially where discussion of them is linked to standard sociological concerns such as the relationship between self and society. The book is suitable for undergraduate and graduate courses in introductory sociology, social problems, family, work, culture, social psychology, social change and theory. It could serve as the main text in discussion-intensive classes or as a supplementary book in classes built around an omnibus textbook. As such, the student is exposed both to wide and varied sociological literatures and to a critical perspective on self and society.
Panoramic perspective is fleshed out with empirical examples that animate theoretical issues.
Similar books used to great advantage across the undergraduate sociological curriculum, especially in discussion-oriented introductory classes, are Mills' Sociological Imagination , Berger's Invitation to Sociology , Lemert's Social Things , Bellah et al.'s Habits of the Heart , Gergen's Saturated Self , and Berger and Luckmann's Social Construction of Reality . Like these books, mine presumes no sociological background, cites ample literature for further reference, and is written engagingly. The accompanying reader will draw from empirical literatures that address issues of social change having impact on everyday life. For example, selections on the social impact of the Internet and World Wide Web will relate to material discussed in Chapters Two and Three. Readings on how women and men juggle career and childcare will relate to issues in Chapter Five.