Social Blueprints Conceptual Foundations of Sociology [Paperback]

Social Blueprintsis a concise introduction to sociological thought that is a refreshing alternative to the approaches of traditional textbooks and other brief introductions to the field. David K. Brown introduces students to concepts and theories that form the foundation of sociological reasoning. In a highly engaging style, he uses personal experiences, salient cultural examples, and pressing social issues to ground these ideas in the everyday experiences of students.
In five cogent chapters, Brown explores how core sociological ideas such as culture, social structure, identities, power, and globalization can better inform our understanding of the social world. He uses contemporary, historical, and global examples drawn from realms such as music, professional sports, fashion, film, government, warfare, protests, corporations, workplaces, education, crime, poverty, architecture, and tourism to lend immediate relevance to sociological endeavor. Acutely focused and written with a clear, critical point of view,Social Blueprintsis ideal for use in introductory and other sociology courses as either a primary or supplemental text.

Each chapter ends with Suggestions for Further Study
1. Individuality, Society, and Identity: Cornerstones of Sociological Reasoning
Vivifying the Mundane: The Sociological Imagination
The Sociological Imagination: C. Wright Mills
Individual v. Social Problems
The Sociology of Celebrities: Individuals in Social Context
The American Preoccupation with Individualism in Cultural, Political, & Economic Life
The Sociology of Identities
Individuals as Webs of Group Affiliation
Social Identities: Repertoire Selection, Multiple Consciousness, and Ambiguity
The Contested Terrain of Sociological Knowledge
Some Cautionary Notes about Sociology v. Psychology
The Reality of the Social: Social Facts
The Logical Gulf Between Fact and Value Stl“