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C. Wright Mills is best remembered for his highly acclaimed work The Sociological Imagination, in which he set forth his views on how social science should be pursued. Hailed upon publication as a cogent and hard-hitting critique, The Sociological Imagination took issue with the ascendant schools of sociology in the United States, calling for a humanist sociology connecting the social, personal, and historical dimensions of our lives. The sociological imagination Mills calls for is a sociological vision, a way of looking at the world that can see links between the apparently private problems of the individual and important social issues. Leading sociologist Todd Gitlin brings this fortieth anniversary edition up to date with a lucid introduction in which he considers the ways social analysis has progressed since Mills first published his study in 1959. A classic in the field, this book still provides rich food for our imagination.
This work investigates the fundamental disconnect between individual experience and broader social structures, arguing for a methodology that bridges personal biography with historical context. C. Wright Mills, a prominent American sociologist, critiques the mid-twentieth-century academic trends of 'grand theory' and 'abstracted empiricism.' He proposes a 'sociological imagination' as a necessary intellectual tool for researchers to understand how private troubles are often manifestations of public issues within a specific historical epoch.
What You Will Find
Experts and scholars consistently identify this text as a foundational pillar of modern sociological thought. Readers frequently note the clarity and urgency of Mills' prose, which remains highly relevant for students and professionals navigating the complexities of contemporary social analysis.
Page Count:
256
Publication Date:
2000-04-13
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0195133730
ISBN-13:
9780195133738
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