Publisher's Synopsis
The Third Edition of Second Thoughts: Seeing Conventional Wisdom Through the Sociological Eye addresses the disparities that exist between conventional wisdom and social life. Through twenty-two essays, authors Janet M. Ruane and Karen A. Cerulo examine popular conceptions of important social subjects that we may accept as commonly held beliefs. This book illuminates how reviewing conventional wisdom with a sociological eye can lead to a more insightful understanding of social life. Features of This Text ′′′′Highlights the key terms, ideas, and theories in each chapter that are defined in the glossary; ′′Includes exercises that reinforce the ideas discussed in each chapter and help students apply sociology beyond the classroom; ′′Contains an annotated guide that recommends both traditional and Internet resources for further reading.′′New to the Third Edition ′′′′Two new essays have been added on addressing individualism and community issues (Essay 7) and exploring technologyÆs impact on our lives (Essay 21); ′′Updated essays incorporate new sociological issues, such as terrorism, new communication technologies, and corporate ethics; ′′Revised chapters that include the latest census data and the most recent statistical reports. ′′Second Thoughts, Third Edition is an excellent supplementary textbook for Introductory Sociology and Social Problems courses. It offers a tried-and-true approach to nurturing critical analysis in undergraduate sociology students taking courses such as introductory sociology, social problems, organizations, institutions, and structures, and social theory. ′′Social Problems: Community, Policy, and Social Action offers a sociological perspective on the social problems discussed. It also provides an awareness that our personal experiences with problems that may arise in families, the workplace, health and medicine, the media, cities and suburbs, or with drug abuse, poverty, crime, the environment, and war and terrorism are caused by structural or social forces. Unlike other texts, the book offers a balanced view through examining both the problems and attempts to resolve these pervasive social issues. ′′Key Features:′′′′′′′′Each social problem is viewed through the Functionalist, Conflict, Interactionist, and Feminist perspectives to give students a full understanding of each issue′′′′′Voices in the Community′ sections provide testimony from individuals that express personal experiences of social problems both as victims and help-givers′′′′Themes of race, class, and gender are integrated throughout the book to provide a multicultural perspective on social problems′′′′′Putting It Together′ exercises within chapters encourage students to do further analysis in their own communities, on their own campuses, or on the Web′′′′′Taking a World View′ boxes in chapters provide a comparative perspective on related social problems in other countries ′′′′′Visual Essays′ have been developed for each chapter to highlight a particular social problem or solution. In some essays, real families and individuals facing the problems under study in the chapter are introduced.′′′′′′Companion Student Study Site: http:/www.pineforge.com/leonguerrero offers unique learning tools such as electronic flash cards, interactive quizzes, Web site resources, a community policy guide and projects, along with service learning activities to encourage student awareness of effective community responses to social problems′′Social Problems is a timely text that ties into recent discussions within the discipline on the commitment to ′public sociology.′ This book takes students out of the classroom, away from their texts, and into their communities. It will serve as a vital and invaluable text for students in social problems courses in sociology or social work.
