Societies and Social Life: An Introduction to Sociology

I use James Russell's Societies and Social Life in my introductory sociology course because it provides a historical structural framework. Too often introductory sociology books are overly reliant on micro-interactionist perspectives. In contrast, this book provides a macro-perspective focusing on power, politics, and the market. Moreover, Russell's historical approach contrasts contemporary societies with past societies and in doing so shows how alternative ways of organizing society are in fact possible. The alternative to capitalist economies is most easily apparent when discussing the development of socialist societies. Most provocative was the discussion of how the societies in the former Eastern bloc have changed with the introduction of capitalist markets. This introductory book discusses the key theorists (Marx, Durkheim and Weber), core specializations (Race, Class and Gender, Family, Organizations), and various research methods. At the end of each chapter, Russell provides a set of key words and concepts that serve as an effective study guide for the students. Overall, this book is clearly written, well organized and it provides a challenging, complex overview of sociology as well as a global and historical perspective of societies.