Story of Sociology
eBook - PDF

Story of Sociology

A First Companion to Social Theory

  1. 192 pages
  2. English
  3. PDF
  4. Available on iOS & Android
eBook - PDF

Story of Sociology

A First Companion to Social Theory

About this book

'A brilliant synthetic essay of theoretical importance in its own right.' Jeffrey C. Alexander, Yale University, USA
'McLennan takes us on an absorbing journey that will provide illumination to newcomers to sociology and seasoned veterans alike. This is a fascinating version of the story so far, and an expansive vision of the road ahead.' Rob Stones, University of Essex, UK
What does sociology involve? How did its key concepts and perspectives develop? What is the scope and relevance of sociology today? These are the fundamental questions that motivate every new and returning student of sociology, and they lie at the heart of this unique book. Situating sociology within the wider context of social theory, Story of Sociology takes us from the intellectual tensions of Enlightenment thought, through the American-dominated twentieth century, to the latest debates in the discipline. Accessible and inspiring, succinct yet challenging, this book is an ideal companion to any introductory sociology or social theory course.
'This is an excellent short introduction to sociological theory, superbly capturing the dilemmas of sociological argument as well as its different traditions and sensibilities.' John Holmwood, University of Nottingham, UK ' Story of Sociology is more than a simple history; it is a compelling invitation to enter the sociological imagination. Extraordinary in its scope and clarity, this book links current departures to enduring themes and captures the dynamic positioning of sociology in the contemporary age.' Lisa Adkins, University of Newcastle, Australia

Frequently asked questions

Yes, you can cancel anytime from the Subscription tab in your account settings on the Perlego website. Your subscription will stay active until the end of your current billing period. Learn how to cancel your subscription.
At the moment all of our mobile-responsive ePub books are available to download via the app. Most of our PDFs are also available to download and we're working on making the final remaining ones downloadable now. Learn more here.
Perlego offers two plans: Essential and Complete
  • Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
  • Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Both plans are available with monthly, semester, or annual billing cycles.
We are an online textbook subscription service, where you can get access to an entire online library for less than the price of a single book per month. With over 1 million books across 1000+ topics, we’ve got you covered! Learn more here.
Look out for the read-aloud symbol on your next book to see if you can listen to it. The read-aloud tool reads text aloud for you, highlighting the text as it is being read. You can pause it, speed it up and slow it down. Learn more here.
Yes! You can use the Perlego app on both iOS or Android devices to read anytime, anywhere — even offline. Perfect for commutes or when you’re on the go.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Yes, you can access Story of Sociology by Gregor McLennan in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Politics & International Relations & Political History & Theory. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Half-title
  3. Title
  4. Copyright
  5. Contents
  6. Acknowledgements
  7. Introduction
  8. 1 Why sociology?
  9. 2 Sociology as understanding modernity
  10. 3 Legacies of Enlightenment
  11. Three founders
  12. 5 Three classics
  13. 6 Three other classics
  14. 7 American hegemony
  15. 8 Conflict contention, synthesis
  16. 9 From the past to the posts
  17. 10 Twenty-first-century sociology
  18. Next steps
  19. Index