A Good Book, In Theory: Making Sense Through Inquiry, Second Edition - Softcover

Sears, Alan; Cairns, James

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1442601566 ISBN 13: 9781442601567

Publisher: University of Toronto Press, Higher Education Division, 2010

Synopsis

This brief and engagingly written book provides a unique introduction to the process of social inquiry and the theoretical and methodological frameworks that support that inquiry, offering a strong foundation in critical thinking that is rooted in the social sciences but maintains relevance across the disciplines.

About this title

About the Author:

Alan Sears is Professor of Sociology at Ryerson University, Toronto. He is the author of Retooling the Mind Factory: Education in a Lean State (UTP, 2003) and co-author with James Cairns of The Democratic Imagination (UTP, 2012).

Review:

A refreshing, thoughtful, and passionate book about social theory that is engaging and accessible. From explaining the multiple ways in which we use theory in our everyday lives, to critically discussing theoretical traditions, including those that emerge from struggles for a better world, this is a must-read for those who want to know more about theory but are afraid to ask.

(Aziz Choudry, McGill University)

For any instructor who has ever struggled to communicate what social theory is and why social theory matters, A Good Book, In Theory is a great book in practice; cogent and comprehensive, relevant and readable, it will excite and enrich the social theory class experience for even the most theory-adverse students.

(Mark Rubinfeld, Westminster College)

With lucid examples from novels, academic sources, and personal anecdotes, Sears and Cairns expand their masterful clarification of the nature of social theory while continuing to ground its relevance in our daily lives. The new edition offers an incisive response to the query 'But How Do You Know?,' advancing the probing examination of the first edition, and transforming our appreciation of the benefits gained from applying academic inquiry to our lived experience. Essential reading for all who would embrace the benefits of formal theory in confronting the challenges that stand in the way of an equitable, sustainable future.

(John Bogardus, Simon Fraser University)

Sears and Cairns have written a passionate, candid, and personal text about a subject that is dreaded as abstract, complex, and boring, particularly by the young generation.... It is indeed A Good Book, In Theory to have.

(Shahrzad Mojab, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education)

About this edition

• Publisher: University of Toronto Press, Higher Education Division
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1442601566
• ISBN 13: 9781442601567
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 206