Essentials of Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach (with MySocLab with E-Book) (8th Edition) ebook

I bought this book slightly used for like $50, thinking I got a good deal.

This entire textbook is online for free though. If you want a cheaper option just use the online book.

If you want a physical copy buy the used one.

I am a sociology instructor at a local college. I assigned this book for several semesters and was ultimately not a huge fan. It is clearly written, but has too many definitions and not enough contextual background to help students understand how sociological concepts and ways of understanding the world might be useful to them or helpful in understanding their personal and social worlds. Henslin has a way of writing which both gives sociology an artificial coherence and which presents debates which are relatively settled as active. For instance, sociology--according to Henslin--has exactly seven research methods (none of which includes 'interviews'...come on, tons of sociologists use interviews..); there are exactly 5 stages to the life course; the US has exactly 6 social classes. On the other hand, in a section of the book where Henslin describes why poor people are poor (p. 245-246), Henslin explains a debate between advocates of a 'culture of poverty' approach and those who view poverty as a structural feature of a society's dynamics. While he does acknowledge that most sociologists don't take a 'culture of poverty' approach to explaining poverty, is this really an ongoing, current debate in the discipline? If not, then why is he presenting it as such? Overall, this book seems more designed to generate easy multiple choices questions than to teach a messy discipline like sociology.

Finally, I found Henslin's chapter on Race and Ethnicity completely unusable. While he does acknowledge the social construction of race, he ignores structural racism in favor of sections on "Prejudice and Discrimination" and "Theories of Prejudice". A central theme of contemporary critical race theory is to point out that viewing racism as merely a problem of the personal prejudices of individuals is part of a popular MISunderstanding that leads us away from exploring how social structures are designed in ways that privilege white people (see Jane Hill's classic, The Everyday Language of White Racism). I mean, seriously? How can you talk about race and racism in the US without even mentioning White privilege? Or structural/institutional racism (different, I would point out, then 'institutional discrimination' which is mentioned on p. 263)? Or the ideology of colorblindness?

And what is up with the "Down to Earth Sociology" and "Cultural Diversity" information boxes? On p. 262, Henslin has a box entitled "The Racist Mind" which explores how people are attracted to White supremest ideologies. As someone who has taught about race in sociology and anthropology before, we are often teaching AGAINST the idea that our society's enormous inequalities based on race (such as the fact that the average net worth of White households is more than 10 times as large as that of black households) are entirely the product of White supremacists and overt racists. Instead, the challenge of teaching about contemporary racism is one of locating the origin of such inequalities in the everyday behaviors of people who do not identify as racists or bigoted. Having a box on "The Racist Mind" actively undermines that approach and enables students to continue to understand racism as the product of overt racists (i.e., 'somebody else') rather than social systems that they participate in.

My biggest frustration, however, is the "Cultural Diversity" box on p. 275, entitled "The Illegal Travel Guide". In this box, Henslin makes undocumented migration sound fun and jovial, rather than a disastrous and deadly consequence of US border policies. He writes, "it was then that I realized that the thousands of Manuels SCURRYING about Mexico and the millions of Juans they are transporting can never be stopped, since only the United States can fulfill their dreams for a better life" (p. 227). So, Henslin is not only making the journey of undocumented migrants sound fun, he is not only referring to those who undertake this journey as "illegal," but he actually using ANIMAL metaphors to describe them. Scurrying. It reads like something out of pre-WWII Germany. As someone who may very well have undocumented students in my courses, the thought of asking them to read such a weird, bigoted description of their experience or those of their family members is sickening.

Anyway, not a great book. Next semester I am switching to Introduction to Sociology (Seagull Eleventh Edition) by Anthony Giddens, Deborah Carr, Mitchell Duneier, and Richard Appelbaum.

I rented this textbook for one of my college classes at PPCC. My college has been requiring students to buy the dreaded custom editions which costs more and are harder to sell. I was told by my professor that only one chapter is missing from this older edition which was fine by me. Ended up asking a friend in class to scan the pages from their textbook. If you are looking to save money on textbooks and don't want to get custom editions, this is a good pick. I enjoyed using this textbook in class I learned a lot of new information that I did not know about. Good diagrams and illustrations to get the point across.

This is the first negative review I've ever given. Unfortunately, as others have said this book is rather opinionated. However, the most egregious issue I have with this book was the authors "so called" research sources. In one particular chapter he cites a well known tabloid magazine (dailymail) as proof of one of his statements. What sort of scientist/professional does that!? Since you'll probably have to buy this book for a class regardless, feel free to fact check my claim.

I saved a bunch of money--not by switching to Geico--but by taking advantage of Amazon's Textbook Rental program. College online offers etextbooks but I'm old(er) and I like to physically hold and read books. I can flip back and forth easily for information and when I am taking a 4 hour final, I need quick, visual information that only a real book can provide. Whining aside, $29.00 to rent as opposed to $190.00 to buy is a remarkable deal. Oh, and the book was really good too. I enjoyed reading it.

It's your typical "modern" super-PC generic college textbook. It's colorful and surprisingly low on typos, but still far too long for what it is and exceedingly boring as a result. Book is hardcover and reasonably durable, so it's not a bad candidate for a rental, but even then, it's comically overpriced.

This book saved me 150 dollars by buying it used and one edition back that the school was requesting the 7th edition. I went to the library to compare the two and they were nearly identical, except for two diagrams and the pages in the 6th edition were one number behind the current. All the information was still accurate and was perfect for studying and note taking. If you are not picky about having the current edition and your professor does not demand that it be current, then by all means by this book and any others used in good condition and one edition back and you will save yourself hundreds. Take it from me, once you learn this you will be in a better position to buy other things that are needed for college. Overall this book is perfect if you want to save money and still get the same education from it.

Got this book within a week which is great, its not a bad read for a text book, wish I could actually enjoy it instead of being forced to speed through it. He gives really good examples and includes many different sociologist research and result in a interesting manner, you can tell the author honestly gives a crap. IF YOUR PROFESSOR WANTS YOU TO GET THE 11TH EDITION DO NOT, they are pretty much exactly the same except for a page number differences!! Don't waste your money on the newer $150 when this edition is just as good!