Study Guide for Sociology Now: The Essentials
Approach     "This text has a contemporary and fresh approach."  Cynthia Reed  Tarrant County Community College     "I found the author's approach to teaching sociology refreshing and intriguing. The way in which the author integrated the new perspectives of globalization and multiculturalism clearly communicated that sociology is and will continue to change and expand in order to more accurately explain societal shifts and transformations."  Kell Stone  El Camino College     "The author's approach is very contemporary and unlike many texts does not seem formulaic."  Cynthia Reed  Tarrant County Community College     "The text's major strength is its unique approach to teaching introductory sociology. The focus on integrative thinking rather than either/ or thinking and the move to new theoretical perspectives rather than the usual functionalism/ conflict theory/ symbolic interactionism focus are both unique in the field of introductory textbooks."  Jennifer Lerner  North Virginia Community College     "The book's major strengths are the way it compares to all the other books on the market."  Jennifer Lerner  North Virginia Community College     "He does an excellent job of showing how sociologists see the world in complex ways."  Adam Moskowitz  Columbus State Community College     "This text appeals to me because of its focus on race, gender, and class as primary and intersecting themes that organize our social worlds and our lives as well as a contemporary approach to sociology through the lens of multiculturalism and globalization. If instructors are interested in helping their students see the complexity and astonishing nature of our everyday life, this could be the text for them."  Kristine De Welde  University of Denver      "Kimmel's approach is exactly what I am looking for in a sociology text.  It addresses the students' realities, it moves beyond the "big three" theoretical approach to an approach grounded in postmodernism and aware of the integration of issues typically dealt with as binaries."  Amy Lynch - George Washington University     "I believe the approach to be quite connected to the field and mission of sociology.  I believe that linking the text to ideas outside of the field of sociology is what progressive sociological thinkers continually try to do."  Risa Garelick - Coconino Community College     "The major strength of this book is that it delves deeply into topics and gives very insightful information."  Dean Wagstaffe -- Indian River Community College     "One great strength of this text is the ability to break down information in a palatable format.  The sections are not too long, enabling students to assimilate a large mass of material in comfortable formats.  Each chapter seems to be well balanced with text, visuals [assuming from notes], and constructive questions for students to consider.  The examples are current, also a strength for drawing in our contemporary students.  The author provides humor and approachability with this writing style."  Pamela Williams-Paez -- College of the Canyons     "The major strengths of the text are that it incorporates global comparisons throughout the whole manuscript and not just in a globalization chapter."  Shelly A. McGrath -- Southern Illinois University     "The major strength of this text is that it captures the two intertwined emergent forces in society and weaves that influence throughout basic sociological theory and concepts."  Susan Blackwell -- Delgado Community College        "When reading the text I felt that it was about learning and piecing information together and not just about memorizing information."  Shelly A. McGrath -- Southern Illinois University -- Carbondale        Students will enjoy the variety of current examples and the active discussions used throughout the text."  Marybeth C. Stalp -- University of Northern Iowa     "The author captures and maintains the reader's attention throughout the entire chapter.  There is full coverage of the topics and the material appears to be well-researched."  Brenda Donelan -- Northern State University     "Kimmel used a strong philosophical base to introduce the development of sociology as a discipline.  The discussion of the various scholars/philosophers who contributed to the discipline of sociology was excellent.  This was the best background information on the science of sociology I have read."     "The author does an excellent job presenting sociology as a field of study driven by the scientific method.  The discussion was readable, yet full of information."     "I thought the author did an excellent job representing the major perspectives of sociology."  Joseph Keith Price -- West Texas A&M; University     "The chapters are successful in promoting critical thinking skills in terms of building arguments, the use of data in those arguments pointing out different sides of the issue, and following up with questions that ask students to apply what they've learned."  Lynette F. Hoelter - University of Michigan       Writing Style     "The writing style is both inviting and engaging. If it was a rating scale of 1-10, 10 being the highest positive rating, I would give it a 10."  Elizabeth Pare  Wayne State University     "I think the best thing about this text is the refreshingly open writing style and lack of pretence. I think that students would be more likely to read, and hopefully remember something that is written for them rather than for the instructor."  William Housel  Northwestern Louisiana State University     "I found the writing style engaging and believe the students would too."  Cynthia Reed  Tarrant County Community College     "Excellent...explains things very well, uses good examples, speaks directly to the audience, and very engaging."  Adam Moskowitz  Columbus State Community College     "The book forces students to think more analytically than other texts."  Amy Kirk  Sam Houston State University     "The writing style is very easy to follow along and stay interested."  Amy Lynch - George Washington University     "I think the writing style is a major plus of this book."  Barry B. Kass -- SUNY Orange     "The writing style is very engaging and appropriate for students at the introductory level.  Furthermore, the author does an excellent job of providing adequate definitions of terms.  I also thought the author used colorful and relevant examples throughout the text."  Christy M. Glass -- Utah State University     "The writing style is lucid and easy to follow.  I feel it is very accessible to students and that they would generally find it engaging."  Ralph B. Brown -- Brigham Young University        "The writing style of the author is excellent.  I was immediately immersed into the author's discussion.  The author presents material in a very straight-forward manner that will be appealing to the student.  His language is not too technical or "scholarly" that he will lose his readers."  Joseph Keith Price -- West Texas A&M; University       Research     "The research used was broad-based and sound. The references included the "traditional" references found in most textbooks, as well as, more contemporary perspectives."  Kell Stone  El Camino College     "The references cited were thought provoking and well placed for critical thinking."  Boyd Bergeson -- Oregon Health and Sciences University     "The research examples in the text are interesting and compelling."  Joseph Keith Price -- West Texas A&M; University       Diversity/ Globalization     "The focus on global issues, as well as race-class-gender, is important and reflects a more current approach than most other texts."  Jennifer Lerner  North Virginia Community College     "I found it refreshing that the author was able to competently integrate sexual orientation not as a mere subject of sociology, but as a normal part of human society."  Kell Stone  El Camino College      "The book does a good job of expressing the idea that the social world is filled with more than just each student's individual experiences. The book speaks to religious issues, gender issues, class issues, global issues, and race issues."  Adam Moskowitz  Columbus State Community College     "A real innovation of this book is its emphasis on globalization, and the explicit way in which the text seeks to "open students' eyes" by looking at a variety of different scenarios from various cultures at various time periods. The book forces students to think more analytically than other texts."  Amy Kirk  Sam Houston State University     "A major strength is the way the author grapples with the complexity of society, bringing in cross-cultural and international issues alongside the issues typically presented."  Lynette F. Hoelter - University of Michigan     "I really like how the author frames and defines the lenses, globalization and multiculturalism, by which contemporary sociologists understand."  Amitra Hodge -- SUNY Buffalo     "The chapters show how society is complex and every issue is complex.  The author also successfully incorporates globalization and multiculturalism throughout the chapters.  Each of the chapters are filled with race, class, and gender and how each of these influences and effects the issue at hand."  Shelly A. McGrath -- Southern Illinois University       "By drawing comparisons to the U.S. and other countries, students are able to develop an understanding of differences and similarities."  Brenda Donelan -- Northern State University     "The author's approach goes beyond what many other texts use.  Most others that I have come across discuss functionalism and conflict perspectives but not globalization and multiculturalism.  These two concepts are very important since we have moved into a global network."  Shelly A. McGrath -- Southern Illinois University     "The text is unique because it incorporates global issues throughout the whole thing and not just in one chapter."  Shelly A. McGrath -- Southern Illinois University     "Kimmel/Aronson did a good job of integrating terms, topics, and concepts into a larger story line about social shifts -- primarily globalization and multiculturalism."  Ralph B. Brown -- Brigham Young University     "The author provi...