Review
Instructor Quotes
“I have used the last five editions of Henslin and consider it to be the best written among those I’ve read. The organization is logical, the content is comprehensive and the examples of concepts are very suited to the concepts.”
Steven Vassar, Minnesota State University
“Overall, the text is amazing. My students find the information fun and interesting. They enjoy reading about Dr. Henslin’s personal experiences as well as cultural experiences.”
Ben Shirley, Alamance Community College
“I’ve been using Henslin’s text in class for several semesters because, in my opinion, it’s organization and structure is very student friendly. Comments I’ve received from actual students always attest to this fact.”
Lori Maida, Westchester Community College
“In sum, I find Henslin’s text to be extremely well written and comprehensive. It is a useful text because it is student friendly and extremely readable and relevant. Henslin uses examples that students can relate to easily and provides vignettes that foster discussion in class.”
Lori Maida, Westchester Community College
“The organization is excellent. Arranging the text into parts is particularly an excellent idea.”
Anthony Woart, Bluefield State College
“My students really enjoy the boxed items and humanized examples. Henslin helps students understand lofty academic ideas through pictures.”
Karen Potter, Eastern Kentucky University
Students Rave
Excerpts from student letters who have used various versions and editions of Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach
I am a 50(!) year old student, and I am really enjoying using your book. Thank you for helping me realize my dream of going to college!
Marsha Roberts
I have never been so intrigued with a text as I am with yours.
Jeannie Owen
Your book rocks!! It is the most fun I have ever had reading any textbook in my life!
Kim B
I seriously believe that reading your book has made me a better person.
Leo Chagolla
I found your text extremely fascinating, well-organized, easy to read and most of all, interesting.
Judy Esway
About the Author
James M. Henslin, who was born in Minnesota, graduated from high school and junior college in California and from college in Indiana. Awarded scholarships, he earned his Master’s and doctorate degrees in sociology at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. After this, he was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship from the National Institute of Mental Health, and spent a year studying how people adjust to the suicide of a family member. His primary interests in sociology are the sociology of everyday life, deviance, and international relations. Among his numerous books is Down-to-Earth Sociology: Introductory Readings (Free Press), now in its twelfth edition. This book of readings reflects some of these sociological interests. He has also published widely in sociology journals, including Social Problems and American Journal of Sociology,
While a graduate student, Jim Henslin taught at the University of Missouri at St. Louis. After completing his doctorate, he joined the faculty at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, where he is Professor Emeritus of Sociology. He says, “I’ve always found the introductory course enjoyable to teach. I love to see students’ faces light up when they first glimpse the sociological perspective and begin to see how society has become an essential part of how they view the world.”
Henslin enjoys reading and fishing. His two favorite activities are writing and traveling. He especially enjoys visiting and living in other cultures, for this brings him face to face with behaviors and ways of thinking that he cannot take for granted, experiences that “make sociological principles come alive.”
