The Big Picture: A Sociology Primer

In this new brief introduction to the rich and complex discipline of sociology, Jon Witt cuts to the core of the sociological perspective, supplying answers to two main questions: "Why do we think the way we think?" and "Why do we act the way we act?" Providing students with a glimpse of the "Big Picture," the author offers a top-down look at the structure of society, which allows us to see the many ways in which we are linked together. The book is based on the view that there are four basic parts to sociology: the individual, society, the relationship between the two, and the consequences of differences. Although the author presents some basic sociological facts about the individual and about society, the overarching concern of the book is the relationship between individual and society--the ways in which our actions shape the world around us and the ways in which we are shaped by the worlds in which we live.

Table of Contents:
BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface Part I. The Sociological Perspective Chapter 1. The Significance of Place Chapter 2. The Sociological Imagination Chapter 3. The Search for Answers Part II. Big Ideas in Sociology Chapter 4. A Hamburger Is a Miracle Chapter 5. Labor Power + Tree = Desk Chapter 6. I Think Therefore I Do Chapter 7. Self and Society Chapter 8. The Meaning of "Is" Part III. Worlds We Live In Chapter 9. The Ties That Bind Chapter 10. Getting Schooled Chapter 11.Keeping the Faith Part IV. The Consequences of Difference Chapter 12. From Gap to Gucci Chapter 13. Opening Doors Chapter 14.Color Coded Part V. Sociology Chapter 15. Sociology Is a Verb Glossary/Index DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface Part I. The Sociological Perspective Chapter 1. The Significance of Place Where We Are Shapes Who We Are Generations: Boomers, X'ers, Millenials Age, Gender, and Race: Demographics and TV Preference Lifestyle Clusters: Demographics and Consumption The Symbolic Significance of Social Life: Urban Legends as Red Flags Power, Privilege, and Place A Look Ahead Key Terms Questions to Ponder Recommended Resources Chapter 2. The Sociological Imagination Society and the Individual: History and Biography Life Chances Social Problems: Private Troubles and Public Issues Sociology Is ... Systematic Study The Individual Society The Consequences of Difference The Presentation of Sociology Micro Approach and Macro Approach Scientific Sociology and Reform Sociology Sociology as a Tool Key Terms Questions to Ponder Recommended Resources Chapter 3. The Search for Answers Collecting Data:The Wheel of Science Theory Hypothesis Research Generalization Classic Cases of Scientific Sociology: Durkheim and Du Bois Durkheim on Suicide Du Bois on Race The Significance of Social Position Social Facts and Critical Interpretation Key Terms Questions to Ponder Recommended Resources Part II. Big Ideas in Sociology Chapter 4. A Hamburger Is a Miracle Durkheim's Perspective on Social Integration A Hamburger Is a Miracle: Interdependence Social Integration in a Traditional Society: The Amish Individualism and Interdependence in Contemporary Society Bowling Alone Expanding Social Capital The Good Society Key Terms Questions to Ponder Recommended Resources Chapter 5. Labor Power + Tree = Desk Labor Power and Technological Innovation Marx's Five Presuppositions Humans Must Produce Production Makes Us Uniquely Human We Pour Ourselves into Our Products Economy Determines Society Scarcity and Distribution Are Obstacles to the Good Society Revolution and the Good Society The Economics of Change Key Terms Questions to Ponder Recommended Resources Chapter 6. I Think Therefore I Do Weber and the Power of Ideas The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism Legitimate Power and Authority Resources of Power Class Status Party Ideas, Power, and Action Key Terms Questions to Ponder Recommended Resources Chapter 7. Self and Society Constructing Culture Material Culture: Human Technology Cognitive Culture: Language, Ideas, Beliefs, and Knowledge Normative Culture: Rules of Behavior Constructing the Self The Socialization of Gender: Learning to Throw Self and Society Constructing Society Levels of Social Structure Self, Society, and Perception Mapping Our Worlds From Society to Self: Scripted Lives From Self to Society: Dramaturgy Understanding Our Options: Structure and Choice Key Terms Questions to Ponder Recommended Resources Chapter 8. The Meaning of "Is" Stories: Narratives and Metanarratives Images: Reality, Perception, and Hyperreality Choices: Consuming Reality Networks: It's a Small World Globalization Cyborgization Transgression: Crossing Boundaries Key Terms Questions to Ponder Recommended Resources Part III. Worlds We Live In Chapter 9. The Ties That Bind Family Structure and Historical Change The Institutional Family The Companionship Family Postmodern Families The Functions of Families Social Networks Individual Needs Social Structure and Family Choice Partner Selection Work/Life Balance Families and Change Key Terms Questions to Ponder Recommended Resources Chapter 10. Getting Schooled Education and Opportunity A Brief History of the U.S. Education System The Right to an Education Education and Social Order Socialization Culture Transmission Job Training Cultural Innovation Childcare Education and Inequality Social Control Tracking Unequal Resource Distribution Education and Change Key Terms Questions to Ponder Recommended Resources Chapter 11. Keeping the Faith The "Big Three" on Religion: Marx, Durkheim, and Weber Secularization and Sociological Definitions of Religion Substance Versus Function What Religion Does: Durkheim's Definition Religion's Functional Equivalents: Football and More Beliefs and Practices Sacred Things Religious Community Long Live Religion: A Postmodern Paradigm Religion: Past, Present, and Future Key Terms Questions to Ponder Recommended Resources Part IV. The Consequences of Difference Chapter 12. From Gap to Gucci Social Class Stratification Systems Social Mobility Distribution of Resources Cultural Capital Class and Culture: The Impact of Position on Preference Appearance: What We Wear Home: Where We Live Leisure: Television, Vacations, Sports, and More Cognitive Culture: Education and Language Economic Distribution Income Wealth Poverty Class Consciousness and Power Key Terms Questions to Ponder Recommended Resources Chapter 13. Opening Doors Limits of Biological Definitions of Sex and Gender Misperceptions of Physical Cues Unclear Boundaries Between the Sexes Cross-Cultural Variation in Gender Concepts Cross-Time Variation in Gender Concepts Evolving Notions of the Natural and the Artificial The Social Construction of Gender The Women's Movement: The First Wave The Women's Movement: The Second Wave The Sex/Gender System The Consequences of Gender Inequality Gender and the Wage Gap Gender and Political Participation Male Privilege An Expanded Vision of the "Natural" Key Terms Questions to Ponder Recommended Resources Chapter 14. Color Coded Race: Constructed and Real Limits of Biological Definitions of Race Anomalous Physical Cues to Racial Identity Fuzzy Boundaries of Racial Separation Cross-Cultural Variation in Racial Categories Cross-Time Variation in Racial Categories The Race System The Consequences of Racial Inequality Race and the Wage Gap Race and Wealth Race and Access to Health Care and Criminal Justice Race Matters: Racism and Privilege Key Terms Questions to Ponder Recommended Resources Part V. Sociology Chapter 15. Sociology Is a Verb Sociological Roots Revisited: From Scientific Sociology to Public Sociology Sociology as Practical Wisdom: Phronesis Personal Sociology: Tools for Survival Public Sociology: Tools for Change Aristocracy and Meritocracy Principle and Practice Equality and Competition Response and Responsibility A Sociology of Hope Key Terms Questions to Ponder Recommended Resources Glossary Bibliography Index

About the Author :
Jon Witt was born and raised in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. He attended college and graduate school in the Chicago area and received his Ph.D. in Sociology from Loyola University Chicago. Jon has been teaching at Central College in Pella, Iowa, since 1993. Hi first book, The Big Picture: A Sociology Primer (McGraw-Hill), provides an accessible and interesting introduction to what it means to look at the world sociologically. The website at www.soc101.com accompanies SOC and The Big Picture, and is dedicated to providing links to sociological stories, research, ideas, data, and more.