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The Social Construction of Reality: A Treatise in the Sociology of Knowledge Paperback – July 11, 1967

by Peter L. Berger (Author), Thomas Luckmann (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 501 ratings
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Called the "fifth-most important sociological book of the 20th century" by the International Sociological Association, this groundbreaking study of knowledge introduces the concept of "social construction" into the social sciences for the first time. In it, Berger and Luckmann reformulate the task of the sociological subdicipline that, since Max Scheler, has been known as the sociology of knowledge.
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  1. Print length
    219 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Anchor
  4. Publication date
    July 11, 1967
  5. Dimensions
    5.2 x 0.55 x 8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9780385058988
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0385058988
  8. See all details
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4.5 out of 5 stars
501 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book insightful and educational, offering an excellent analysis from a sociological perspective. They describe it as an interesting, must-read classic that is well-written. However, opinions differ on the language quality - some find it challenging and well-written, while others consider it thick and unnecessary.

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Scholarly contentReadabilityLanguage quality
34 customers mention "Scholarly content"27 positive7 negative

Customers find the book insightful and educational. They describe it as a classic treatise on the sociology of knowledge, with excellent analysis from a sociological perspective. The book provides great baseline information for those interested in self-knowledge and development. It is a must-read for psychologists, social workers, and other behavioral scientists.

"...The section on society as subjective reality, and the subsection on identity, is of absolute importance for psychologists like myself who work with..." Read more

"..." is a bigger notion than what's covered in this book, but the book's insightful into how a particular and fundamental bit of "reality" is..." Read more

"...and Luckmann have crafted a fascinating argument, drawing on earlier sociological classics (Weber and Durkheim in particular) but also incorporating..." Read more

"...(and educational, of course) read...." Read more

22 customers mention "Readability"22 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and thought-provoking. They describe it as an important classic that is worth reading. Readers also mention it's enjoyable and a timeless resource.

"A very thought-provoking book. It really challenges you, but in a friendly way. The writing is crystal clear, warm and often witty...." Read more

"...Objective: The book is an important piece of literature...." Read more

"...a bit scared of this book to begin with, but it proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable (and educational, of course) read...." Read more

"...Are we chasing our tails? WHAT HAVE WE LOST? A challenging, interesting read that is well written and should definitely jar some dust loose...." Read more

24 customers mention "Language quality"14 positive10 negative

Customers have different views on the language quality of the book. Some find it well-written and manageable for non-academics, with unbelievable clarity. Others feel the writing is challenging, using thick language that can be difficult to understand at times. The paperback is also criticized as poor and almost impossible to read.

"...This book is written so well it elucidates some of the most profound and insightful psycho-social theories in plain english, although some..." Read more

"...valuable intellectually; the train of thought is inexact and sometimes very confused; there is no support for the claims made other than appealing..." Read more

"...something they could cover in a paragraph, but on the whole it's not badly written." Read more

"...It really challenges you, but in a friendly way. The writing is crystal clear, warm and often witty...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • name
    5.0 out of 5 stars a most important book
    Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2007
    Verified Purchase
    This book should be considered absolutely required reading for anyone studying sociology or psychology, or anything else. This book is written so well it elucidates some of the most profound and insightful psycho-social theories in plain english, although some familiarity with basic social science terminology is a prerequisite for thorough comprehension. Its impossible to give a complete synopsis of it in a brief review, but overall the book covers the construction of social reality in complete detail, from institutions to the microsocial world of individual identity construction. The section on society as subjective reality, and the subsection on identity, is of absolute importance for psychologists like myself who work with identity problems like DID. Too often psychotherapy of the self and identity ignores the underlying fact that these are dialectic social products. The foundation of self improvement and change is this awareness of the socially constructed self. This book explains all of this with great clarity and alot of useful examples.
    24 people found this helpful
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  • Olivier
    5.0 out of 5 stars As expected
    Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2024
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    Product respects description.
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  • farington
    4.0 out of 5 stars Decent intoduction to sociology of knowledge
    Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I found this book to develop some ideas I first encountered in Durkheim's "Elementary Forms of Religious Belief", the notion that "reality" is a function of social organization. The authors assume that social reality begins with practical necessity--that social roles are established in accordance with what the tribe needs for survivial, and that this man-made assignment of functions nevertheless is viewed as the objective order of things, existing outside of man. This is what the authors call the "dialectic" of social reality. A person is raised in a society, receiving from parents what the authors call "primary socialization", the social structure is taught to them and interalized as "the way things are". In a complex society, as a person matures he or she will engage in "secondary socialization", learning the "reality" of particular roles (e.g. occupation) which impart identity.
    One of the interesting points raised by the authors was whether it is possible for someone to ever fully socialize into a foreign culture, their primary socialization in their native land perhaps remaining predominant. And they provide an interesting interpretation of how social nonconformity arises: a clash between social norms and the content of a divergent primary socialization.
    There are a number of deeper philosophical issues that the authors don't address, which is fine because this is a study of the workings of society and it has a practical bent. For instance the authors speak about identity as it's shaped by society, but not how the self a function of interaction with the Other. It's not an epistemological inquiry into how knowing is possible. It also doesn't delve into the underlying nature of human use of symbols--it just says that symbols make communal interaction easier. So "reality" is a bigger notion than what's covered in this book, but the book's insightful into how a particular and fundamental bit of "reality" is shaped.
    The book is mostly jargon-free and readable. Sometimes the authors take a few pages to explain something they could cover in a paragraph, but on the whole it's not badly written.
    14 people found this helpful
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  • Jordan Bell
    5.0 out of 5 stars The sociology of knowledge
    Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This is a rich compact book. I came across it while doing reading on epistemology. This book is well suited for an organized reading group. It is short but dense and should probably both be read slowly and read again. I have read it without the benefit of a reading group. Until I have read the book again, the best summary I can give is the following passages from the book.

    “It will be enough, for our purposes, to define ‘reality’ as a quality appertaining to phenomena that we recognize as having a being independent of our own volition (we cannot ‘wish them away’), and to define ‘knowledge’ as the certainty that phenomena are real and that they possess specific characteristics.”

    “It is our contention, then, that the sociology of knowledge must concern itself with whatever passes for ‘knowledge’ in a society, regardless of the ultimate validity or invalidity (by whatever criteria) of such ‘knowledge.’ And insofar as all human ‘knowledge’ is developed, transmitted and maintained in social situations, the sociology of knowledge must seek to understand the processes by which this is done in such a way that a taken-for-granted ‘reality’ congeals for the man in the street. In other words, we contend that the sociology of knowledge is concerned with the analysis of the social construction of reality.”

    “The theoretical formulations of reality, whether they be scientific or philosophical or even mythological, do not exhaust what is ‘real’ for the members of a society. Since this is so, the sociology of knowledge must first of all concern itself with what people ‘know’ as ‘reality’ in their everyday, non- or pre-theoretical lives. In other words, commonsense ‘knowledge’ rather than ‘ideas’ must be the central focus for the sociology of knowledge. It is precisely this ‘knowledge’ that constitutes the fabric of meanings without which no society could exist.”

    Two earlier writers on the sociology of knowledge cited by Berger and Luckmann are Karl Mannheim, Ideology and Utopia: An Introduction to the Sociology of Knowledge and Werner Stark, The Sociology of Knowledge: Toward a Deeper Understanding of the History of Ideas.
    34 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Enrique H.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excelent book
    Reviewed in Mexico on August 10, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    great thinking. As the author said once again. In science as in love , concentration in techenique produces impotence.
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  • Enter Name
    5.0 out of 5 stars Everything we live is not yours.
    Reviewed in Germany on October 21, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    One of the greatest books you can read if asking for answers, why society is “wrecked” by design. Helped people around me and myself to vanish reality and step out and into the matrix on personal free will/won’t. Great. A must read for stranded and based souls .
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  • Nilesh wasnik
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very nice thought provoking book
    Reviewed in India on April 8, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    A masterpiece in sociology if read properly will destroy the concepts of religious thinking and existence of God and Goddesses..the whole scenario of religion will be crushed to death..A must read for every scientific attitude person.
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    Nilesh wasnik
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very nice thought provoking book
    Reviewed in India on April 8, 2022
    A masterpiece in sociology if read properly will destroy the concepts of religious thinking and existence of God and Goddesses..the whole scenario of religion will be crushed to death..A must read for every scientific attitude person.
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  • red wolf
    5.0 out of 5 stars For anyone interested in sociology and epistemology in general.
    Reviewed in Italy on February 8, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    For anyone interested in Social Sciences. IMHO one of the most insightful books ever written comparable to The Structure of Scientific Revolution by Thomas Kuhn. Just brilliant.
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  • Client d'Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ouvrage indispensable pour qui veut comprendre l'ontologie constructiviste.
    Reviewed in France on June 15, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Oeuvre séminale, limpide et complète, aux fondements de la plupart des travaux souscrivant à une ontologie constructiviste (selon laquelle, pour faire court, la réalité sociale est un produit de la société).
    Lecture indispensable, agréable et stimulante.
    Quant à l'objet, la version "paperback" est tout à fait satisfaisante, portable et solide, même si le papier peut avoir un aspect un peu rugueux.
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