Sociology is a constantly evolving field that covers the relationship between human society and social behaviour. This subject offers in-depth and valuable insights into human social interaction and the structure of society. Studying this subject equips individuals with various tangible and intangible skills.
The question is where you can get this priceless knowledge. Sociology books, of course! Whether you are preparing for your sociology exam or simply want to quench your knowledge thirst, these books are valuable resources for understanding the subject of sociology. Here, we’ll curate the list of the best books on sociology subject.
Continue reading to explore the key insights of this article first.
Important Notes:
- Sociology is an interesting subject because it allows individuals to better understand the structure of society and human behaviour.
- Nowadays, most students prefer to study sociology, as it offers a broad perspective of almost every aspect of life and provides excellent career opportunities.
- Sociology books play a key role in broadening the knowledge spectrum of this subject.
- Here, we have enlisted the top 9 books that will surely help you understand this subject.
Is Studying Sociology Major Good for Students?
Many students are confused when opting for a sociology major because they think this subject will not lead them to a defined career like engineering, medicine, or law does. It is true that the sociology major doesn’t focus on a single sociology subject, but this degree is multi-disciplined. Students can cover other subjects in this major because sociological issues are prominent in almost all aspects of life.
Apart from this, a sociology degree offers lucrative career opportunities for students. As per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, a sociologist earns $101,310 per year which is almost double the salary of a human resource specialist.
To make a successful career in this field, students must grasp complex sociology concepts well. For this, they must read good sociology books to gain first-hand experience tackling social issues.
Therefore, we are going to mention a list of the best books on this subject. Read further down to uncover the names of these books.
Top 9 Best Books on Sociology for Students
Picking the best book from the myriad of good books on sociology is not easy. Therefore, we have enlisted some of the top-searched books in 2024. You can pick anyone to understand human-social interaction.
1. Essentials of Cultural Anthropology: A Toolkit for a Global Age 3E
This is one of the most popular sociology books written by Kenneth J. Guest. This book states the importance of videos and interactive learning. It also emphasises that these modern learning methods are essential tools of cultural anthropology. These enable students to start looking at the world in a new way and start diverse questions that come during class.
Guest presented some effective ways to prepare students to get involved in meaningful discussion, which eventually opens ways to explore the global age and multiculturalism. Students often get help with their assignments by reading this book, as it provides broadened perspectives of various educational cultures.
2. Economy and Society
Economy and Society is written by Max Weber, a well-known author who offers a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between the economy and society. Weber states how the rise and fall of a nation’s economy affects societal norms and values. He further says that some societal norms also influence the economic system.
Simply put, this book presents a theoretical framework for how the society and economy influence each other. It further highlights the role of bureaucracy, authority, and power in the structure of society. All in all, this book is considered the essential textbook for economics and sociology majors as it provides a deep understanding of social and economic phenomena.
3. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism
This book was also written by Max Weber, who raised a question about the work ethic of protestants. He stated that the early protectants, like Calvinism, were greatly influenced by the emergence of capitalism in the European world. In this book, he traced the origin of cultural changes and further explored how religious revolution plays a catalyst role in the development of the economy.
Below are some reasons why sociology students must read this book.
- It encompasses complete history buffs and gives an overview of the importance of cultural trends.
- It is the best book for students who have political minds and want to understand the social divide.
- This book gives a comprehensive overview of the modern work culture.
4. Social Theory and Social Structure
Robert K. Merton writes Social Theory and Social Structure. This book aims to specify the framework and structure of social science. Furthermore, Merton highlights the importance of the complex relationship between social structure and human behaviour. By reading this book, you can get a clear understanding of two key fundamental concepts of sociology which are:
- Role Model
- Self-fulfilling Prophecy
Additionally, this book encompasses an in-depth structural-functional analysis and elaborates on how societal norms influence human behaviour. Robert further stated how unintended results of societal norms structure the overall behaviour.
5. Envy: A Theory of Social Behaviour
This is one of the best sociology books that Helmut Schoeck writes. In this book, he discussed a detailed exclamation of various faces of envy. He said that this emotion is the drive of man’s life as a social being. Also, he highlighted the constructive and destructive effects of envy on human life.
Schoeck also demonstrates how totalitarian states quickly affect envy and why this emotion is more rooted in an egalitarian society. It is an extremely good sociology book that covers a multitude of topics related to social society. Moreover, the author addresses the origin of some ancient crimes that were being committed due to envy.
6. You Just Don’t Understand: Women and Men in Conversation
This is one of the most popular sociology books, having been among the New York Times best-sellers for nearly five years. It was written by Deborah Tannen, a famous American professor of linguistics. The main discussion topic of the textbook is the gender difference and distinctive communication styles of men and women.
Additionally, this book focuses on the interpersonal relationships between women and men. After reading this book, an individual will never approach their conversations in the same way gain. Tannen highlights how men and women can interpret the same conversation in a completely different way, which ultimately specifies the core reasons for gender discrimination.
7. The Social Construction Reality
The Social Construction Reality by Peter Burg and Thomas Luckmann is a treatise on social knowledge. This book highlights how individuals and group behaviours construct societal norms and values. With the help of social construction, they interact and shape the society’s structure. It further emphasises the role of communication and languages in understanding how the world is collaboratively constructed.
The author further said that society’s reality comes from the complex interconnection of historical, social, and cultural factors. These factors continuously reconstruct and reinforce society. In a nutshell, this book offers a foundational analysis of sociology knowledge.
8. Distinction
If you are not a fan of classical sociology books, then this book is for you. The distinction is written by Pierre Bourdieu, a popular social critic. In this book, he gives a comprehensive analysis of how individuals’ tastes and preferences play a key role in shaping societal norms and structures.
He argued that personal choices ranging from food to music library not only indicated individuals’ tastes but also showcased from which class they are related. Indeed, class differences intertwine with personal choices and values. In this book, Pierre gives an example of French society and demonstrates how cultural consumption factors structure the society.
9. Social Psychology: Handbook of Basic Principles
This book offers a deep understanding of basic concepts of social behaviour. The main topics covered include motivational, biological, and interpersonal systems. By presenting ideas clearly, the author encourages students to explore the sociology world.
Moreover, this book is popular, especially among sociology students, as it encompasses basic concepts of sociology that are directly linked with psychology. Students get help from this book to understand sociology concepts and write their papers. If they are unable to understand these concepts, they can get assistance from London-based assignment writing services to complete their sociology assignments on time.
Conclusion
Sociology academic reading is not necessarily always exciting. Sometimes, students can read some sociology books apart from these course books to get an in-depth understanding of this subject. These books offer a broad perspective of relationships between human behaviour and societal norms.
In this article, we have enlisted nine top books that students can read to widen their knowledge spectrum of this field. These books can help not only in academics but also uncover the realities of the practical world. So, pick a book from our list and enjoy your reading.
