Marx, Durkheim, Weber
Formations of Modern Social Thought
- Ken Morrison - Wilfrid Laurier University, Ontario
This is a thoroughly revised, expanded version of the best selling student text in classical social theory. The book provides an authoritative, accessible undergraduate guide to the three pivotal figures in the classical tradition. Readable and stimulating, the book explains the key ideas of these thinkers and situates them in their historical and philosophical contexts. The student gains an immediate understanding of what is distinctive and relevant about these giants of sociology.
The book includes a glossary with over 150 entries. For a decade, the book has been required reading on undergraduate degree programmes. This new edition, refines the material, extends the analysis and enhances our appreciation. It is a nugget in its field.
This book provides a useful, clear and comprehensive introduction to key social thinking. Classical sociological thought is discussed in a straight-forward manner that helps students get to grips with topics that can be difficult to grasp. For many students this is a must-read!
Dr. Janine Duvier
London Metropolitan Business School
This book provides a very useful reference tool for students of the visual arts, particularly the section that deals with Fetishism and Commodities and Weber's Theories of Knowledge and Theory of Social Action. The comprehensive glossary of concepts is also an excellent reference tools as these may be used in other texts but not explained as thoroughly.
I have personally recommended this book to students on the 'introducing social theory' course that I teach on. I have found that it outlines and addresses each classical thinker systematically, thoroughly, and most of all, clearly. For me, it has now become one of the essential texts for my teaching programme, replacing other texts I previously used. Excellent format for teaching and the introductory chapter provides a detailed and insightful historical backdrop to the works of the three founding fathers; this provides and excellent platform for the whole module.
A great introduction to classical sociology which will be much appreciated by our students. It is easy to navigate around this book; it is broad and informative of sociological theory.
Useful for students aiming for higher grades on the module 'Economic Well-being in Families and Communities'.
