Second Thoughts: Seeing Conventional Wisdom Through the Sociological Eye,   ISBN:9780761988243

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Summary:

"It is a wonderful book from which to teach introductory sociology. I like Second Thoughts a great deal and I am eager to use it in a Third Edition."

"A major strength is that the students like the text and they read it. The essays are a really good way of raising questions and simultaneously introducing students to sociological concepts and terms."

"Be fearful of strangers," "beauty is only skin deep," "haste makes waste," "actions speak louder than words," -who among us is not familiar with these sayings? Adages such as these shape everyday conventional wisdom, the beliefs that constitute a culture’s common knowledge. However, conventional wisdom often contains only elements of truth, and social patterns and behaviors frequently contradict the wisdoms we embrace.

The Third Edition of Second Thoughts: Seeing Conventional Wisdom Through the Sociological Eye addresses the disparities that exist between conventional wisdom and social life. Through twenty-two essays, authors Janet M. Ruane and Karen A. Cerulo examine popular conceptions of important social subjects that we may accept as commonly held beliefs. This book illuminates how reviewing conventional wisdom with a sociological eye can lead to a more insightful understanding of social life.

Features of This Text

Highlights the key terms, ideas, and theories in each chapter that are defined in the glossary;

Includes exercises that reinforce the ideas discussed in each chapter and help students apply sociology beyond the classroom;

Contains an annotated guide that recommends both traditional and Internet resources for further reading.

New to the Third Edition

Two new essays have been added on addressing individualism and community issues (Essay 7) and exploring technology’s impact on our lives (Essay 21);

Updated essays incorporate new sociological issues, such as terrorism, new communication technologies, and corporate ethics;

Revised chapters that include the latest census data and the most recent statistical reports.

Second Thoughts, Third Edition is an excellent supplementary textbook for introductory sociology courses. It offers a tried-and-true approach to nurturing critical analysis in undergraduate sociology students taking courses such as introductory sociology, social problems, organizations, institutions, and structures, and social theory.