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Punk Sociology by David Beer
This book explores the possibility of drawing upon a punk ethos to inspire sociology and to cultivate a vibrant future for the discipline. Aiming to fire the sociological imaginations of sociologists at any stage of their careers, from new students to established professors, it uses punk to think creatively about what sociology is and how it might be conducted. Dave O’Brien finds this a readable, fun, intriguing and vital book, although the author does romanticise the punk movement somewhat. Read more…

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When Soldiers Say No: Selective Conscientious Objection in the Modern Military edited by Andrea Ellner, Paul Robinson and David Whetham
When Soldiers Say No brings together arguments for and against selective conscientious objection, as well as case studies examining how different countries deal with those who claim the status of selective conscientious objectors. This collection adds considerably to the literature by bringing together a range of perspectives on the merits of selective conscientious objection, as well as consideration of its application (or lack thereof) in a number of states, writes Gary Wilson. Read more…

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Medicine and Empire 1600-1960 by Pratik Chakrabarti
This book aims to provide an introduction to the shared history of modern medicine and imperialism – spanning three centuries and covering British, French and Spanish imperial histories in Africa, Asia and America. Pratik Chakrabarti explores the major developments in European medicine from the seventeenth century to the mid-twentieth century, to show that the major developments in European medicine had a colonial counterpart and were closely intertwined with European activities overseas. Sally Brown finds this a very readable book with a vast array of information packed into it and recommends it to anyone interested in exploring the history of medicine. Read more…

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Latin America’s Multicultural Movements: The Struggle Between Communitarianism, Autonomy, and Human Rights, edited by Todd A. Eisenstadt, Michael S. Danielson, Moises Jaime Bailon Corres, and Carlos Sorroza Polo
Throughout the Americas, indigenous people have been arguing that as “first peoples” they should be entitled to representation in local, national, and international fora in a capacity different from that of other civil society groups. Latin America’s Multicultural Movementsis a collection of empirically-based chapters that aim to advance debates concerning multiculturalism and indigenous and minority group rights in Latin America by looking at the struggle between communitarianism, autonomy, and human rights. Senia Cuevasrecommends this book to those interested in the history and politics of indigenous communities and the weaknesses of multicultural policies. Read more…

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The History of the Kiss! The Birth of Popular Culture by Marcel Danesi
How should we make sense of the iconic act of the kiss? How and when did it become a vital sign of romance and love? In this book, Marcel Danesi argues that the romantic kiss had its origins in the medieval court ritual. He aims to explore how the kiss emerged in the context of adultery and non-traditional amorous relationships. He takes the reader through medieval poetry and romance literature to modern paintings, movies, and pop songs, arguing that its romantic incarnation signalled the birth of popular culture. Catherine Hezser finds that The History of the Kiss is too light on analysis and lacks a convincing argument to make it useful for academic reading. Read more…

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Growing into Politics: Contexts and Timing of Political Socialisation, edited by Simone Abendschӧn
This book presents up-to-date empirical research on crucial questions of political socialisation. The volume maintains that political socialisation is no universal or independent phenomenon, but one significantly shaped by the surrounding parameters of the society in which it is embedded. Simone Abendschӧn has assembled a strong collection that should ideally encourage aspiring PhD candidates in politics, sociology and education to open up the study of political socialisation further by incorporating new contexts, debates and methodologies, writes Alex Hensby. Read more…

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Risk: A Study of its Origins, History and Politics by Matthias Beck and Beth Kewell
Over a period of several centuries, the academic study of risk has evolved as a distinct body of thought, which continues to influence conceptual developments in fields such as economics, management, politics and sociology. Risk: A Study of its Origins, History and Politics aims to provide a detailed study of key turning points in the evolution of society’s understanding of risk. Matthias Beck and Beth Kewell map the political origins and moral reach of some of the most influential ideas associated with risk and uncertainty at specific periods of time. Political historians will find much of interest, writes Maria Zhivitskaya. This book has the potential to make a prominent contribution in its field, for the reason that others can work to fill the gaps the authors leave. Read more…

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After Civil Rights: Racial Realism in the New American Workplace by John Skrentny
What role should racial difference play in the American workplace? In After Civil Rights,John D. Skrentny contends that after decades of mass immigration, many employers and advocates have adopted a new strategy to manage race and work. Skrentny argues that in today’s workplace, employers routinely practice “racial realism,” where they see racial diversity as a way to increase workplace dynamism. Leticia M. Saucedo is not wholly convinced by Skrentny’s argument and acknowledges that some employers could twist this approach to re-create segmentation in the workplace. This account of how the law works in practice and on the ground is a great read for those interested in legal studies, history, political science, sociology or civil rights. Read more…

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The Work of Art in the World: Civic Agency and Public Humanities by Doris Sommer
Celebrating art and interpretation that take on social challenges, Doris Sommer looks to steer the humanities back to engagement with the world. Among the cases that she covers are top-down initiatives of political leaders, such as those launched by Antanas Mockus, former mayor of Bogotá, Colombia, and also bottom-up movements like the Theatre of the Oppressed created by the Brazilian director, writer, and educator Augusto Boal. This inspiring book is filled with models, sources, and ideas that can be adapted and adopted to inform teaching and research about activist art and creativity, finds Anna Upchurch. Read more…

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Collaborative Media: Production, Consumption, and Design Interventions by Jonas Löwgren and Bo Reimer
With many new forms of digital media – including social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr – the people formerly known as the audience no longer only consume but also produce and even design media.Jonas Löwgren and Bo Reimer term this phenomenon collaborative media, and in this book they investigate the qualities and characteristics of these forms of media in terms of what they enable people to do. Their analysis of projects in collaborative media that range from small multidisciplinary research experiments to commercial projects used by millions of people enriches the existing academic and public debates, writes Vyacheslav W. Polonski. Read more…

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A Sociology of Culture, Taste and Value by Simon Stewart
This book sets out to explore sociological debates in relation to culture, taste and value. Simon Stewart argues that sociology can contribute to debates about aesthetic value and to an understanding of how people evaluate, and seeks to contribute to alternative approaches that draw attention to other values and to other ways of valuing.Rachel Sykes finds that the author’s in-depth knowledge of the overlapping principles in processes of rationalization, globalisation and cultural capital lead to a thought-provoking and insightful challenge to long held cultural assumptions that test the boundaries of our subjective leanings. Recommended for students of sociology and cultural studies. Read more…

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