Thinking Through Sociology (Translation Series of Social Theory)

Author: (English) Zygmunt Bauman
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features: Almost everyone feels like a part of a special community or excluded from it. Almost everyone faces difficult choices about where to live and how to live. Almost everyone is in the experience of love or desires to be loved. Through the discussion of these common experiences from our daily lives, Zygmunt Bauman, in this book, presents a clear and interesting introductory overview of what it means to think sociologically. By examining the unspoken assumptions and hopes that constitute our worldview, Bauman elaborates on the key concepts of sociological thought, from individualism and community to civilization and modernity. In outlining the main concerns of sociology, he also provides readers with a series of typical examples of how to think sociologically. His insights should encourage readers to explore their own social lives in pursuit of a multipolar goal of better understanding the human condition and purpose. Of course, it can also serve as a guide to lead readers to further, systematic study of sociology. Even though this book was originally intended for readers with little or no knowledge of sociology, it is equally recommended for students who are already quite familiar with the discipline. Unlike many introductory textbooks, it does not simply list concepts and ideas but is instead a highly personal and engaging read. Bauman finds sociology to be very interesting and disruptive, and he hopes readers will feel the same way.