Sociology's goals are ambitious. Their pursuit is exciting. Covering the development of sociology from its origins to the present day as well as identifying the strengths and limitations of all sociology's main research methods, this book provides a lucid introduction for students who are embarking on or considering taking-up sociology. It explains the jargon in all sociology's main theories and methods. Sociology's core subject matter has always been the major transformations as societies have modernised. These transformations include industrialisation, urbanisation and democratisation; the building of social market economies and welfare states after the Second World War; and the ongoing transformation into a post-industrial era. Sociology's parallel core interest is in social divisions, by class, gender and race among others, thereby identifying change-makers and how the effects of transformations have varied by social position. The book introduces sociology's perpetual debates: the senses in which its methods can be scientific; the relationship between theory and research; and the role of sociology in society. It stresses how sociology addresses questions that are simply not posed elsewhere. The answers consistently challenge everyday common sense and the views of the world offered by politicians and the media. Succinct and comprehensive, this book welcomes and challenges sociology students. For free access to an electronic inspection copy, please visit www.e-elgar.com (For a limited time only)

Sociology: An Introduction

Politics & Social Sciences

Roberts, Ken

Sociology

Edward Elgar Publishing

Sociology's goals are ambitious. Their pursuit is exciting. Covering the development of sociology from its origins to the present-day as well as identifying the strengths and limitations of all sociology's main research methods, this book provides a lucid introduction for students who are embarking or considering taking-up sociology. It explains the jargon in all sociology's main theories and methods.
Sociology's core subject matter has always been the major transformations as societies have modernized. These transformations include industrialization, urbanization and democratization; the building of social market economies and welfare states after the Second World War; and the ongoing transformation into a post-industrial era. Sociology's parallel core interest is in social divisions, by class, gender and race among others, thereby identifying change-makers and how the effects of transformations have varied by social position. The book introduces sociology's perpetual debates: the senses in which its methods can be scientific; the relationship between theory and research; and the role of sociology in society. It stresses how sociology addresses questions that are simply not posed elsewhere. The answers consistently challenge everyday common sense and the views of the world offered by politicians and the media.
Succinct and comprehensive, this book welcomes and challenges sociology students.
Contents: 1. Introduction; 2. Transformations: Modernisation and Industrialisation; 3. Twentieth Century Transformations; 4. Divisions: Social Class; 5. Gender, Race and Other Divisions; 6. What Are Societies Made Of?; 7. Research Methods; 8. The Role of Sociology in Society; Bibliography

Pop Bottles

Children's Books

Douglas & McIntyre, Ltd

Hiccup Champion of the World

Maynard Chan has had the hiccups for three months, and it's starting to look as if nothing he does will stop them. . .until he's faced with the prospect of appearing live before millions of viewers on the country's most famous late-night TV talk show! A funny book, sure to make kids laugh, from one of Canada's favorite children's authors.

GROUNDWOOD BOOKS *

The Thumb in the Box

When their village on the northwest coast of British Columbia receives a fire truck as a gift from the Canadian government, Leon and his friend Susan encounter the man hired to build the fire station whose practical joke of a real live wiggling thumb in a box frightens them.

Humor

Leon and his friend Susan live in New Auckland, an isolated village on the northwest coast of British Columbia. One day, the village receives an unexpected gift from the government  a fire truck. The problem is that mountains surround the village. There are no roads, no cars, and no fire hydrants. The man who comes to build the fire station brings with him a practical joke that scares the wits out of Leon and Susan  a real live wiggling thumb. It’s a toss-up as to which object will leave a bigger impact on the villagers  the first vehicle they’ve ever seen or the bizarre appendage.

Literature & Fiction

Thumb on a Diamond

Leon (now known by his new nickname, Thumb) and his best friend Susan love their tiny, remote fishing village of New Auckland. Wedged between the sea and the mountains, it is beautiful, peaceful and getting a little boring. So Thumb and Susan come up with an ingenious plan to form a baseball team, win the regional title, and qualify to be sent to the provincial championships in Vancouver, courtesy of the school board. Never mind that none of the village's nine school-aged children have ever played baseball before. Never mind that there are no other teams to compete with for the regional championship. Never mind that the village is not even wide enough for a baseball diamond. With a lot of ingenuity and a little grown-up help, including the advice of shipwrecked British children’s writer Mr. Entwhistle, the New Auckland Beavers go into training and start packing their bags. But what will happen when they get to Vancouver? Ken Roberts’s witty portrait of the droll, gently subversive villagers of New Auckland makes this a welcome sequel to its acclaimed predecessor.

Leon (now known by his nickname, Thumb) and his best friend Susan love their tiny, remote fishing village wedged between the sea and the mountains. It is beautiful, peaceful  and very boring. So Thumb and Susan come up with an ingenious plan to form a baseball team, win the regional title, and qualify to be sent to the championships in Vancouver courtesy of the school board. Never mind that none of the village's children have ever played baseball before. Never mind that there are no other teams to compete with. Never mind that the village is not even wide enough for a baseball diamond. With a lot of ingenuity and a little grown-up help, the New Auckland Beavers go into training and start packing their bags. But what will happen when they get to Vancouver? Ken Roberts’s witty portrait of the droll, gently subversive villagers of New Auckland makes this book a welcome sequel to its acclaimed predecessor.

Inspired by a movie shown at the local gym (with the whole town in attendance), 11-year-old Leon (aka Thumb) wants to track down a bad guy. After all, he thinks, without bad guys, the Harry Potter books would just be stories about school. And he wouldn't mind being known as the Jake Danger of New Auckland. But with only 143 people in his remote British Columbia fishing village, surrounded by mountains and ocean, how could there even be any bad guys around? And where would they hide? But Thumb is determined, so he and his pal Susan conduct a stakeout. Their suspicions soon focus on bald, toothless old Kirk McKenna, who has the revolting habit of spitting on the sidewalk. Meanwhile, a new teacher, the odd Ms. Weatherby, has arrived in town wearing heavy makeup and a terrible wig. Maybe she's the "bad guy" they're seeking. Will the determined duo find their villain? Ken Roberts brings his trademark quirky characters, tight plotting, detailed portrait of small-town life, and lively humor to this fascinating story that also contains underlying messages about tolerance and the value of community.

Thumb and the Bad Guys

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Roberts, Ken. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Roberts, Ken

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Roberts, Ken. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Sociology: An Introduction

Sociology: An Introduction

Pop Bottles

Hiccup Champion of the World

Hiccup Champion of the World

The Thumb in the Box

The Thumb in the Box

Thumb on a Diamond

Thumb on a Diamond

Thumb and the Bad Guys