La Porte County Public Library System

"This lucid and lively book, punctuated with witty, incisive examples, is addressed both to the layman who wants to know what sociology is all about -- and to students and sociologists who are concerned over the larger implications and dimensions of their discipline. The author views sociology in the humanist tradition and recognizes it as a 'peculiarly modern, peculiarly timely form of critical thought.' Without underestimating the importance of...

The epic story and ultimate big history of how human society evolved from intimate chimp communities into the sprawling civilizations of a world-dominating species. If a chimpanzee ventures into the territory of a different group, it will almost certainly be killed. But a New Yorker can fly to Los Angeles, or Borneo, with very little fear. Psychologists have done little to explain this: for years, they have held that our biology puts a hard upper...

Influential scholar Peter L. Berger reveals five signs that point to the supernatural and its place in a modern secular society   Acclaimed scholar and sociologist Peter L. Berger examines religion in twentieth-century Western society, exploring the social nature of knowledge and its effect on religious belief. Using five signs evident in ordinary life-order, play, hope, damnation, and humor-Berger calls for a rediscovery of the supernatural as a...

Neil J. Smelser's The Sociology of Economic Life is a foundational text that bridges the disciplines of sociology and economics, offering a comprehensive analysis of how social structures, cultural norms, and human behavior shape economic systems. Written with clarity and depth, this seminal work provides an essential framework for understanding the dynamic interplay between society and economic activity. Smelser explores key themes such as the role...

"Why has war been such a consistent presence throughout the human past? A leading historian explains, drawing on rich examples and keen insight. Richard Overy is not the first scholar to take up the title question. In 1931, at the request of the League of Nations, Albert Einstein asked Sigmund Freud to collaborate on a short work examining whether there was "a way of delivering mankind from the menace of war." Published the next year as a pamphlet...

"The world's skyscrapers have brought us awe and wonder, and yet they remain controversial--for their high costs, shadows, and overt grandiosity. But, decade by decade, they keep getting higher and higher. What is driving this global building spree of epic proportions? In Cities in the Sky, author Jason Barr explains all: why they appeal to cities and nations, how they get financed, why they succeed economically, and how they change a city's skyline...

The rules are simple: 1. Tell a lie. 2.Stick to your story. 3. And never, ever get caught... On a cool June morning, a woman is walking her dog in the idyllic coastal village of Salten, along a tidal estuary known as the Reach. Before she can stop him, the dog charges into the water to retrieve what first appears to be a wayward stick, but to her horror, turns out to be something much more sinister... The next morning, three women in and around London,...

"Nationally bestselling author Julissa Arce interweaves her own story with cultural commentary in a powerful polemic against the myth that assimilation leads to happiness and belonging for immigrants in America. Instead, she calls for a celebration of our uniqueness, our origins, our heritage, and the beauty of the differences that make us Americans. --" Provided by publisher.

"After a harrowing flight, Queenie, her younger brother, and their elderly Chinese father arrive in the United States from the Philippines. They're here to finally reunite with Queenie's Filipina mother, who has been working as a nurse in Brooklyn for the past few years-building a life that everyone hopes will set them up for better prospects. But her mother is not the same woman she was in the Philippines: Something in her face is different, almost...

Describes how American churches have increasingly emphasized a political agenda while failing to promote the welfare of those who depend upon them, arguing that American churches need to return to their traditional role as shepherds in their communities.