Customer Reviews

Mapping the Social Landscape: Readings in Sociology

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book contains just enough usable articles to make it through a 101 Sociology class, but that's about all. I don't think I would use it again, as it's hard to justify making students pay the price tag. On the downside, the articles are very poorly organized, and it often requires a stretch of imagination to discover why the editor placed a certain article under one category heading and not another. All the articles on education, for example, could have been in the section about race. The section on socialization is particularly poor, as the articles together do not really add to what would be covered in a typical survey course on that topic. They all could have been placed elsewhere in the book or just left out. This book is also very light on classical sociology, with just one excerpt each from Marx and Weber and a smattering of later standards. The excerpts themselves can be very choppy, especially at the end when they often trail off without emphasizing any particular conclusion -- a problem I noted in earlier versions of this book that does not seem to have been improved. Finally, there are many articles and excerpts included here that are simply not from the field of sociology and they are very hit or miss. The journalistic accounts about social issues may seem like valuable reading, but they are more useful for a high school sociology or current events course than for a college-level introduction to the discipline.

Not great for an intro to soc book because it doesn't really include definitions but I love that it's small and relatively inexpensive. Took forever and a half to get it though, even though I ordered it new and direct from Amazon.

I originally bought this book as required reading for my college Introduction to Sociology course. As far as textbooks go, this is by far the most interesting compilation of assigned readings I have ever encountered. Almost every single selection in this book has some form of enlightenment or interesting perspective to offer. Most college students sell their college texts as soon as they finish a course. In the case for this book, I am bestowing it the honor of remaining on my bookshelf to be read, reread, and lent to as many friends I have that show an interest for it.

I received the book exactly as described during the purchasing process. I also received it in fewer days than stated during checkout.

Used this book for my Sociology 101 class. Some of the articles were good and thought provoking, others predictable and booring. I'd say for a textbook, it is better than average.

Bought the book for a class. It was timely in delivery, and in very good condition. Everything I asked for.

The book came in perfect condition! We are very happy and saved a lot of money.