A level Sociology Textbooks

hi there,
i've recently started a combined honours degree including sociology, and as i didn't do sociology for a-level, i'm finding the classical sociology quite difficult to grasp, so it was recommended that I go through an a level textbook!
just wondered if anyone could recommend one which features the works of Marx, Weber, Durkheim and Simmel (as in the classical sociologists), as that is the area i'm struggling with!!
thanks!! :smile:

Reply 1

kellywood_5

17

'Sociology for AS' and 'scoiology for A2' by Stephen Moore and I think a couple of other authors are good. They might not go into that much detail about the area you're studying, but they'll tell you what Durkheim, Marx etc thought about different topics such as education, family, religion and crime and deviance.

Reply 2

Chris.Livesey

10

Try to get hold of a copy of Philip Jones' "Theory and Method in Sociology: A Guide for the Beginner" (or Martin Slattery's "Key Ideas in Sociology" if you want to get a feel for the major ideas associated with different theorists).

Otherwise, try Tony Bilton et al "Introductory Sociology" or Giddens' "Sociology" for overviews / introductions to key theorists.

Reply 3

Podge

8

i'd say Haralambos and Holborn. thats what is use. its a beast- no joke. but tis good stuff. meant to Uni people apparantly according to one of my lovely Sociology teachers, but we use it at College as its quite easy to understand.

there are topics within it such as Family, media, education, crime&deviance, etc there is about 15 in all. with all starting with Functionalists such as Durkheim etc, Marxism- Marx, Weber etc!

www.haralambosholborn.com - thats the website of the Textbook, i couldnt get on it, but could before, prob updating it or something, so keep trying if you want to have a look.

oh and its a bit pricy if you are actually going to purchase it. i'd see if you could have a look at one before hand. you'll see why its sooo much when you see the beast-ness of it!

hope this helps..... sorry if not! :smile:

Reply 4

Obscured

I was told by my sociology teacher that haralambus is banned at university because of its monopoly over all other text books.
Mind you it is a good book although a bit of a door stop. I'd advise buying it from Amazon as it is cheaper alternatively just borrow it from a library to see if it is " your sort of book"

Reply 5

Chris.Livesey

10

I think "banned" is too strong a word - but my experience is that it's not "well-liked" by University teachers (and not "because of its monopoly over all other text books"). Rather, the problem with Haralambos (although it should really be Holborn because Haralambos hasn't contributed to it for years...) is that it was originally designed (back in the 80's) for A-level. Its coverage of, say, theoretical perspectives is accordingly truncated - providing generalised, often 2nd-hand, overviews of major theorists (perfect for A-level but insufficient for degree-level). If you read, for example, Haralambos and then the original source it condenses (in terms of classical theory at least) it's not sufficently accurate for degree work.

The LSE, for example, recommends Giddens (no surprise there) for "pre-course" reading, plus PLummer and Macionis and, more-surprisingly, Fulcher and Scott - any of these should bring you up to speed on classical theory.

Reply 6

Obscured

I agree banned is too strong a word- sorry! And again apologies for my "monopoly over other text books" comment I was just repeating what I was told.

Reply 7

notebook

'Sociology in Focus' for AQA AS and A2 (two separate texts) might be a good one; its fairly basic, colourful etc BUT for someone who hasn't studied Sociology before it provdies a great overview with enough depth for questioning and highlights the real key studies/approaches.

Reply 8

Racht70

5

MMMMM...Im doing a degree in social acience and my sociology tutor said haralambos is the book to read along with giddens and fulcher and scott (all called sociology) anyway when i came to write my biblograghy for a power and ideology essay my other tutor told me not to read them! as there A level books! there great books which i can grasp as im not academic (but trying ...artist at heart ) whatsoever! but these are easy to grasp and are very imformative.

Reply 9

SmuUsh

A good but very dull and plain book is Introducing Sociology for AS by Ken browne
and there is another one i knoe but can't remember what it is calld!

Reply 10

Xx Tomásíona - Mháire xX

14

Podge

i'd say Haralambos and Holborn. thats what is use. its a beast- no joke. but tis good stuff. meant to Uni people apparantly according to one of my lovely Sociology teachers, but we use it at College as its quite easy to understand.

there are topics within it such as Family, media, education, crime&deviance, etc there is about 15 in all. with all starting with Functionalists such as Durkheim etc, Marxism- Marx, Weber etc!

www.haralambosholborn.com - thats the website of the Textbook, i couldnt get on it, but could before, prob updating it or something, so keep trying if you want to have a look.

oh and its a bit pricy if you are actually going to purchase it. i'd see if you could have a look at one before hand. you'll see why its sooo much when you see the beast-ness of it!

hope this helps..... sorry if not! :smile:

the haralambos is one class book! and yeah its banned in universities cause it has far too much information they want you to look it up for yourself....thats why you hide it under your bed lol!!!!! xoxo

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