Product Description

In this lucid, stimulating and original book, Zygmunt Bauman and Tim May explore the underlying assumptions and tacit expectations which structure our view of the world. The authors elucidate key concepts in sociology: for example, individualism versus community, and privilege versus deprivation. While charting a course through sociology′s main concerns, Bauman and May also examine the applicability of sociology to everyday life.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #84362 in Books
• Published on: 2001-07-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

Review
"Sociological thinking is an adventure in self–understanding and moral reflection as well as systemic analysis. Thinking Sociologically is one of the best available introductions to this adventure." Craig Calhoun, New York University

"In the first edition of Thinking Sociologically, Bauman created a very personal yet inspiring view of Sociology as a liberating discipline. In the second edition, Bauman and collaborator Tim May have added new topics – Time and Space, Intimacy, and Risk – that have kept the visionary gleam of the original. In showing how Sociology can illuminate the rhythms of everyday life, this new edition will enthuse a new generation of students." –– Nick Abercrombie, Lancaster University

"In this revised edition, Tim May has done a brilliant job of reworking Bauman′s text while keeping the directness and verve of the original version." –– William Outhwaite, University of Sussex

"Bauman and May have produced a new edition of a book whcih will serve us well for a second decade" Community Care

"Highly recommended for undergraduate and general readers". Choice

Of the Previous Edition:

"Bauman skilfully weaves in the contributions of major theorists and introduces important concepts of sociology as they become relevant." Choice

"Bauman finds sociology exciting and subversive: so will his readers." Laurie Taylor, University of York

"Bauman′s commitment to sociology as a sophisticated, yet manageable, mode of thought stays with my students and lends depth to their reading of other texts in the course. I am impressed with the book. But my students′ spontaneous enthusiasm for Thinking Sociologically is the highest praise of all." Ira Cohen, Professor of Sociology, Rutgers University

"A wise, introduction to sociology." Contemporary Sociology

Choice
Highly recommended for undergraduate and general readers.

From the Back Cover
In this lucid, stimulating and original book, Zygmunt Bauman and Tim May explore the underlying assumptions and tacit expectations which structure our view of the world. The authors elucidate key concepts in sociology: for example, individualism versus community, and privilege versus deprivation. While charting a course through sociology′s main concerns, Bauman and May also examine the applicability of sociology to everyday life.

This volume is a completely revised and expanded edition that includes new materials on health and fitness, intimacy, time, space and disorder, risk, globalization, identity, organizations, and new technologies. It was written for the benefit and enjoyment of students, professional sociologists and social scientists, and anyone else interested in the dynamics and issues that structure everyday life.

Please visit the accompanying website at http://www.blackwellpublishers.co.uk/ThinkSoc2e/ to view sample material from the new edition, sociology resources for lecturers and students plus information on related titles.

Customer Reviews

Accessible
I was completely confused about what I was doing in a sociology class until I discovered this book. It is readable and doesn't overload you with information. Gives clear balanced arguments and reasoned opinions. Is not daunting in it's size in the same way as some other introductory sociology texts.

Hmmm
This book, is the second book i picked up when i was starting my sociology degree. I have to say, it has some amazing points made and some of the way the theories are explained makes it so easy to understand. This book has a powerful way of teaching.
The chapters include-
-Action, identity and understanding in everyday life
-Living our lives: challenges, choices and constraints
-Looking back and looking forward
Theyre all interesting in different ways, and get straight to the point.

However.
This book does not include all of the things you will need for a degree, it does not have all the well known cases and theorists. Nor does it outline any of the basics.

BUT, do buy this book if you have never studied sociology before, as it tells you how to think about sociology, and how to understand it properly.
Where as most of the books, [i.e. the Giddens Sociology book-which i definately recommend everyone in buying] have just an overload of facts, cases, theorists etc.

So, in other words, buy this book if you want help understanding sociology - it's a fairly light read and wont take you long.
i would even recommend it to people who have studied sociology before, because i believe you'll end up thinking in a completely different way.

Excellent introduction
This was the first book I read as a sociology undergraduate, and, as far as introductions to sociology go, this is the best one I have come across. Very accessible and gives the newcomer a good idea of what it is to think about everyday issues in sociological terms. Bauman is an excellent writer, no doubt about it. However, as the title indicates, this is a book that is more about sociological "imagination", so you should not expect a book on the history of sociology. What is more, after reading a few of his other books it is evident that the sociological "imagination" Bauman is describing embodies quite a few of his own views (fluidity, ambiguity, modernity's struggle with ambivalence). Nonetheless, this is still an excellent book and defintely worth reading.