Editorial Board:
Editor:
George H. Conklin,
 North Carolina
 Central University

Board:
Bob Davis,
 North Carolina
 Agricultural and
 Technical State
 University

Richard Dixon,
 UNC-Wilmington

Ken Land,
 Duke University

Miles Simpson,
 North Carolina
 Central University

Ron Wimberley,
 N.C. State University

Robert Wortham,
 North Carolina
 Central University

Editorial Assistant

John W.M. Russell,
 Technical
 Consultant

® 

Volume 6, Number 2
Fall 2008

Book Review of: The Social Context View of Sociology

by

Joseph Kaminski
 Brooklyn College/Indiana University Northwest

    The Social Context View of Sociology by Marty E. Zusman, David Knox, and Tracie Gardner (2009) is an introductory sociology textbook published by Carolina University Press (ISBN 978-1-59460-572-7). 

    The Social Context View of Sociology is an enormous asset for teaching introductory level students the ideas and arguments with which sociologists regularly grapple. The book allows for the reader to grasp key concepts such as gender, class, and social order at their own pace.  The book does not present confusing charts or other digressions that may trouble the first year social sciences student.  Instead, it offers a concise discussion of what constitutes the core of contemporary sociology. 

    This textbook really helped me structure my introductory to sociology course.  As a first time instructor of this course I was nervous, especially since my formal training is in political science. After reading through the book before the course began, I realized I had a solid guide to help me navigate through material I had not read since my undergraduate studies. 

    Zusman, Knox, and Gardner effectively introduce fundamental concepts in a straight forward and clear way.  The first part of the book clearly outlines key sociological theories and terms.  Students are taught the different forms of organization that make up our constantly changing society.  As the book progresses, students are introduced to the notion of culture and how values and norms evolve within societies.  Towards the end of the book, students are introduced to social class, race, ethnicity, family, and gender.

    This book also effectively emphasizes the importance of groups and communities.  The book allows for the instructor to make an easy transition to in class discussions of real life situations that students face on a daily basis.  In the class I teach using The Social Context View of Sociology, we spent over half an hour discussing the role and nature of the fraternities and sororities, and how they impact social life and events on campus.  Students found this to be not only interesting, but something they can relate to on a personal level.  Many students shared interesting stories, showing the critical thought provoking nature of the text. 

    Zusman, Knox, and Gardner really do a terrific job of emphasizing the different approaches and theories held in regard to education.  They show that there is not one specific paradigm, rather that there is some value to all schools of thought.  Students are given concrete numbers to look at regarding disparities among the achievements of students of different racial backgrounds.  After reading the section on education, students should have a better understanding of their own personal educational path and goals.  It offers students a chance to be reflective on their own learning experience. 

    The Social Context View of Sociology is constructed in a way that allows for the instructor to pick and choose chapters in correlation to the rest of their course.  For example, when discussing the nature of gender relations, ones needs only to turn to Chapter 9 where an in depth discussion about the three main theories (conflict, functionalism, and interactionism) of gender and gender inequality are clearly stated.  Students are introduced to critical concepts such as ageism, feminization of poverty, and occupation sex segregation.  Theories and their original authors are discussed, thus allowing the students their own further exploration upon a topic they may find interesting. 

    Along with allowing the instructor great flexibility for introducing topics, this book contains up to date and current examples that help students to associate themselves with the social and political processes that surround them.  One such example mentioned in the text is that of war profiteering and the relation between political institutions and big business. "When Dick Cheney makes an announcement supporting the war in Iraq, one wonders the degree to which he profits from the war through private contracts with companies (Halliburton) with whom he had an association."  From such a statement, students would be intellectually intrigued to find out more about possible corruption and underhandedness within our own political system.

    The book concludes nicely with a discussion of how socialization leads to the formation of political structures and economic systems.  Zusman, Knox, and Gardner give a fair assessment of the bureaucratic elements inherent in western industrial society.  Students are shown how society is dependent upon various institutions that often have divergent interests.  After finishing the book, students will have a new outlook on the importance of the complex social arrangements that shape our daily lives that are so often taken for granted.  This is an excellent introductory book that also fits within the budget of the student with limited economic resources.