This first truly multicultural anthology collects important, readable texts representative of the full range of social theory from the nineteenth century to the present. Now that social theory is practiced in many disciplines, it is necessary to reflect on the variety of theories being read today and the earlier sources that are customarily neglected. If today we read Donna Haraway, Henry Louis Gates, and Michel Foucault, we should also read and understand Charlotte… More >>
Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings
Charles Lemert’s two books, “Social Theory” and “Social Things”, are widely used as reading in undergraduate Sociological Theory courses. I find both books to be quite lacking. In “Social Theory” Lemert chooses painfully short excerpts from many important theorists while providing little to no discussion or analysis of the work.
The sections of Weber, Marx and Durkheim (the three founders of sociology) are well-chosen, but it is easy to find quality works from these authors.
This is not a bad boor per se. It is a mediocre collection from start to finish. Charles Lemert is a preeminent scholar, but any PhD could churn this book out in six months.
Rating: 2 / 5
Than the last book I read by Lemert. Not his worst, but still not very good. Not recommended as introductory material, because he spends too little time on each author (did he even read Goffman?), but not good for advanced readers either, as they will undoubtedly find his analysis rather shallow.
Rating: 2 / 5
The book was in good condition as advertised and has no torn pages. It is excellent and cheap. Thanks to Amazon.
Tunde Akindele
Rating: 5 / 5
Lemert’s book, Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classical Readings, is worth reading, but it covers an enormously broad range of theoretical perspectives. In some instances, coverage of any one theorist and concepts crucial to understanding his or her work is startlingly brief. George Herbert Mead, for example, is given only five pages to explain the structure of the self and the key role it plays in his social behaviorism. Furthermore, while Lemert’s own comments are learned and valuable, this is not the sort of book that provides well-developed concrete examples. Beyond that, little attention in given to synthesizing the complementary efforts of disparate theorists.
While a useful book, this is the kind of text which invites misunderstanding and abuse. Readers are unimpressed by the apparent shallowness of great thinkers who are given too little attention. Ill-tutored instructors are inclined to present material in a disconnected list-like fashion, without developing the ideas listed by Lemert. Perhaps the character of the book was determined by the nature of a specific market at which it was aimed. Sad.
Rating: 3 / 5
This collection is unmatched in its comprehension, particularly in regards to its inclusion of a wide variety of contemporary perspectives.
Rating: 5 / 5