Sociological Insight

Revised and expanded to incorporate recent research, this classic text now offers a more comprehensive introduction to many of sociology's most interesting and elegant ideas, written with a grace and wit that have delighted a generation of students. Beginning with a central problem that distinguishes sociology from most other ways of looking at the world, Randall Collins examines the limits of human rationality and sociological theories of religion, showing howthey open up a general theory of social rituals that holds the key to much of the rest of sociology. With these conceptual tools in hand, he invites students to ponder how sociological analysis canilluminate a variety of urgent topics--power, crime, sex, love, and the position of women in society--as it reveals both their visible social symbols and their paradoxical deep structures. In a new final chapter, Collins stakes out an important role for sociology in the information age, while coming full circle to the theories of rationality and ritual with which he began, showing that artificial intelligence can approximate human creativity only if it can take part in ritual interactions.Uniquely engaging, Sociological Insight dramatizes the major issues and concerns of sociology in a way that gets students thinking and talking, and whets their appetites for more.

“"Thought-provoking observations on a number of important sociologicalissues."--Lloyd Klein, Medgar Evers College”

"The best supplement for introductory sociology."--Louis Hicks, St. Mary's College"Better than the first."--John Kennedy, Indiana University"The second edition's new chapter on artificial intelligence adds suggestive insights."--W. paul Vogt, State University of New York, Albany"A great book to introduce students to the field of sociology."--No name, University of Tennessee"Makes sociological ideas exciting for the first time. Thank you for publishing a new edition."--H. Edward Price, Western Carolina University"Collins has done what he set out to do: produce a jargon-free statement of non-obvious conclusion based on classic sociological theories."--J. Alan Winter, Connecticut College"A fascinating perspective on subjects and issues not typically found in sociology texts."--Carolyn Arnold, University of Massachusetts, Boston"Good balance....Good introduction to 'grand theory' in the classical tradition."--Scott Sernak, Indiana University, South Bend"Thought-provoking observations on a number of important sociological issues."--Lloyd Klein, Medgar Evers College

Author of Three Sociological Traditions and Three Sociological Traditions: Selected Readings

Revised and expanded to incorporate recent research, this classic text now offers a more comprehensive introduction to many of sociology's most interesting and elegant ideas, written with a grace and wit that have delighted a generation of students. Beginning with a central problem that distinguishes sociology from most other ways of looking at the world, Randall Collins examines the limits of human rationality and sociological theories of religion, showing how they open up a general theory of social rituals that holds the key to much of the rest of sociology. With these conceptual tools in hand, he invites students to ponder how sociological analysis can illuminate a variety of urgent topics--power, crime, sex, love, and the position of women in society--as it reveals both their visible social symbols and their paradoxical deep structures. In a new final chapter, Collins stakes out an important role for sociology in the information age, while coming full circle to the theories of rationality and ritual with which he began, showing that artificial intelligence can approximate human creativity only if it can take part in ritual interactions. Uniquely engaging, Sociological Insight dramatizes the major issues and concerns of sociology in a way that gets students thinking and talking, and whets their appetites for more.

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