The Blackwell Companion to Sociology - (Wiley Blackwell Companions to Sociology) Annotated by Judith R Blau (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The Blackwell Companion to Sociology is a milestone collection of new essays by renowned sociologists, covering both the traditions and strengths of the field as well as newer developments and directions. Authors from the US, the UK, Europe and elsewhere have contributed to this all-in-one reference work, highlighting the relevance of interdisciplinary and international perspectives, while at the same time representing the scope and quality of sociology in its current form.

From the Back Cover

The Blackwell Companion to Sociology is a milestone collection of new essays by renowned sociologists, covering both the traditions and strengths of the field as well as newer developments and directions.

• Contains 31 definitive essays by an international panel of renowned figures in sociology
  
• Covers traditional topics in sociology, such as theory, stratification, political sociology, and the sociology of education and social movements, as well as emerging areas such as immigration studies, the sociology of space and time, and the sociology of intimate relations and religion
  
• Considers the most recent advances in communications, political mobilization, and analyses of the nation-state, reflecting the rapid changes wrought by globalization
  
• Includes a comprehensive list of sociological data resources available on the web.

Authors from the US, UK, Europe and elsewhere have contributed to this all-in-one reference work highlighting the relevance of interdisciplinary and international perspectives, while at the same time representing the scope and quality of sociology in its current form.

Review Quotes

"Judith Blau's Companion is an impressive collection by a sociologist/editor who clearly knows her field and has done her homework. The volume is comprehensive enough to serve as a lifetime sociological companion, and will be useful not only to researchers, teachers, and students, but to sociologically curious general readers." Herbert J. Gans, Columbia University

"Judith Blau has assembled an impressive group of international scholars who have written essays on the cutting edge of sociology today. Not only are the chapters first rate, but the range of topics is creative and new. The book reflects some of the changes in sociology over the last decade, and it presents new agendas for sociology in the next decade, and beyond. This exciting book is a 'must read' for all sociologists." Jonathan H. Turner, University of California-Riverside

"Graduate students and scholars in sociology, economics and political science may find a few challenging essays and useful websites in their areas of interest." Choice

"The chapters are informative, concise and lively. Beyond its utility as a reference, however, the spirit of the volume as a whole is a nice reminder that sociology remains an ambitious endeavour whose complexities and rewards may continue to grow with time"
Contemporary Sociology

About the Author

Judith R. Blau is Professor of Sociology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and President of the US chapter of Sociologists without Borders, an international NGO. She is the author of Architects and Firms (1984), The Shape of Culture (1989), and Social Contracts and Economic Markets (1993), and Race in the Schools (2003), and has published articles on organizations, networks, economic inequalities, crime, sociology of science, urban sociology, historical sociology, medical sociology, and sociology of education.