Stevenpfo
Emperor
I'm starting my first Sociology course in May and was wondering if anyone had any book recommendations for a noob? Any good authors that stand out? I've heard that Anthony Giddens is decent. Is there any truth to that?
Sociology
- Thread starter Stevenpfo
- Start date
brennan
Argumentative Brit
Another mortal lost to psuedoscience. *sigh*
It's not too late to switch to Physics!
It's not too late to switch to Physics!
Stevenpfo
Emperor
Since someone else is paying for it and I already have a job i'm picking something that I actually get excited about learning.
Sociology is great.
gangleri2001
Garbage day!!!
brennan
Argumentative Brit
Heathens! 
jessiecat
Divine Monarch
I did the same as you, in my 30's, as I missed out on uni early on. Went back
to do a degree just for fun, so to speak. Majored in Modern History and Politics
but that included some Sociology. Wouldn't have it as a major though.
But Giddens is good, esp. when he's referring to Max Weber's "Protestantism
and the Spirit of Capitalism" which is must reading in my view. Never mind
about the snide remarks from the scientific philistines. Real learning is about
seeing the big picture, not just the nuts and bolts.
klazlo
Avatarless Sociologist
Jessiecat is right, Giddens is decent, and you have to see the big picture.
I'm probably biased, but sociology is really useful.
Good luck!
I'm probably biased, but sociology is really useful.
Good luck!
Stevenpfo
Emperor
Well, to be honest I haven't signed up for anything and I don't have too yet as they are night classes. I wanted to major in history and maybe minor in politics as well but there's a catch. I have to convince work that it will be useful for work. I wasn't able to when I attempted to with history.
I plan on taking Sociology and Psychology and using as many history classes as filler credits after the core prereqs are met.
I'm actually glad for most the core subjects. It means work has no choice but to let me take a lot of interesting ones (philosophy, polly sci, history, anthropology) so I can meet the prerequisites that are required for a BA that they agreed to let me work towards.
I plan on taking Sociology and Psychology and using as many history classes as filler credits after the core prereqs are met.
I'm actually glad for most the core subjects. It means work has no choice but to let me take a lot of interesting ones (philosophy, polly sci, history, anthropology) so I can meet the prerequisites that are required for a BA that they agreed to let me work towards.
As a political science / history student who's dabbled in the other social sciences I have to say that I have major respect for anyone who can do sociology or anthropology well. I could never get my head around it. Too much in the way of mental gymnastics for me, very difficult.
Stevenpfo
Emperor
I did the same as you, in my 30's, as I missed out on uni early on. Went back
to do a degree just for fun, so to speak. Majored in Modern History and Politics
but that included some Sociology. Wouldn't have it as a major though.
But Giddens is good, esp. when he's referring to Max Weber's "Protestantism
and the Spirit of Capitalism" which is must reading in my view. Never mind
about the snide remarks from the scientific philistines. Real learning is about
seeing the big picture, not just the nuts and bolts.
How did that work out for you? Going back to school that is. Did you do it part-time or full time during the day? Did it make a big difference in the types of jobs you were attempting to get or did it improve the job you had at the time?
I just got back from the book store. they didn't have any Giddens. Ah well. I did get 4 other books though. I'm sure a few of them may make some people cringe.
"Audacity of Hope" - Barack Obama
"Chomsky on Anarchism" - Noam Chomsky
"Madness and Civilization" - Michel Foucault
"Dictionary of Sociology"
I wasn't going to get the dictionary but it was actually pretty interesting just flipping through it. The only reason I got that Chomsky book is because i've always been slightly interested in reading that one and it's the first time i've seen it in a store since I started looking many years ago. I could have ordered it online but it is so much more fun to wander around book stores looking randomly.
Ecofarm
Deity
"Radical Ecology" -Carolyn Merchant
It's only about 100pages and many journal articles have been written about it.
http://www.amazon.com/Radical-Ecology-Livable-Revolutionary-Movements/dp/0415935784
I also recommend Glen Davis Stone, or his predecessor.
It's only about 100pages and many journal articles have been written about it.
http://www.amazon.com/Radical-Ecology-Livable-Revolutionary-Movements/dp/0415935784
I also recommend Glen Davis Stone, or his predecessor.
jessiecat
Divine Monarch
How did that work out for you? Going back to school that is. Did you do it part-time or full time during the day? Did it make a big difference in the types of jobs you were attempting to get or did it improve the job you had at the time?
I just got back from the book store. they didn't have any Giddens. Ah well. I did get 4 other books though. I'm sure a few of them may make some people cringe.
"Audacity of Hope" - Barack Obama
"Chomsky on Anarchism" - Noam Chomsky
"Madness and Civilization" - Michel Foucault
"Dictionary of Sociology"
I wasn't going to get the dictionary but it was actually pretty interesting just flipping through it. The only reason I got that Chomsky book is because i've always been slightly interested in reading that one and it's the first time i've seen it in a store since I started looking many years ago. I could have ordered it online but it is so much more fun to wander around book stores looking randomly.
It was a long time ago. I'm that old. Graduated in the early 80's. Girlfriend
taught school and I worked part-time, so it was full-time for 3 years.
Best thing I ever did though it didn't directly lead to a job. Discovered I
could write pretty well so I get some stuff published on a freelance basis.
More importantly, It trained me how to research, organise my thinking etc.
Not really wasted, in my view. You never stop learning or asking questions.
It's what keeps us alive. Discovered Civ 1 in 1992. Played ever since.
BTW On anarchism, try anything by George Woodcock if you can find it.
Stevenpfo
Emperor
I actually saw books with similar titles today and was tempted but I only had so much money to spend on books.
I'll most likely be looking into something similar and i'll keep that one book marked.
GenMarshall
High Elven ISB Capt & Ghost Agent
How is social science pseudoscience? Youre just biased towards physical sciences
Stevenpfo
Emperor
I'm excited about going to university. when I was in the army I didn't think i'd ever get the chance to go back to school at all again. I do actually find things like sociology interesting. I do realize a teacher can make it boring. As well as a text book or boring authors. It's still better than most everything else ... Like physics.
Ecofarm
Deity
Robert Chambers
"Rural development: putting the last first"
"Rural development: putting the first last"
Glen Davis Stone
http://artsci.wustl.edu/~anthro/blurb/b_gds.html
"Settlement Ecology"
Robert Netting
"Cultural Ecology"
They are all part anthropologist/sociologist.
"Rural development: putting the last first"
"Rural development: putting the first last"
Glen Davis Stone
http://artsci.wustl.edu/~anthro/blurb/b_gds.html
"Settlement Ecology"
Robert Netting
"Cultural Ecology"
They are all part anthropologist/sociologist.
brennan
Argumentative Brit
Guilty as charged your honour.How is social science pseudoscience? Youre just biased towards physical sciences
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