Sociology For Dummies [Paperback]

I was a little perturbed when I came to look at this book as the blurb states it is the UK edition not the US edition ... you could have fooled me.

Other then the odd bit of editing (moving of sub-paragraphs from one chapter to another, and so on), the only thing that appears to have been altered for the UK market is the spelling.

The sociology changes from country to country and it is important to study the correct country's sociology. Unfortunately the information contained within the text is US information and statistics and not UK information.

Why is this important?

As a lecturer in Forensic and Criminal Psychology I can say that sociology forms a large percentage of the study requirement - if you don't understand the sociology of the region and the country where the crime is committed then you cannot start to understand the crime and the criminals.

When a student uses the wrong information as a basis of their essay/exam work then they will lose marks. These lost marks may become vital if the student is borderline between grades or even bordering on a fail.

From my point of view (disclaimer at the front of the book or not) the publishers should not have put the term "UK Edition" on the book as it is misleading. They should have been clear that the information inside is US based and is (to a large degree) not applicable to UK sociology study.

I realise it would have taken some effort to turn this into a true UK edition, rather than take the easy route of using the US information, but it would have been worth it if they had made the attempt (after all that's what Dr Gabler brought Dr Meer in for).

I was a little shocked and disappointed at the "them and us" attitude towards psychology. I thought we were long passed that stage of combative speak, but obviously it is not the case in some areas and for some people. In my field we use both psychology and sociology. To exclude either would mean the understanding we seek regarding human behaviour is drastically reduced.

The content of the book itself is very dry, bordering on boring which is a shame as sociology when taught right can be one of the more interesting subjects available - but then again I'm bias.

There is one other problem I have with the book, and that is the use of the author's (I mean the original author's) point of view on the subject. Rather than the book containing the known and agreed facts the author has taken it upon himself to put his views, as long as a student quotes this as being Dr Gabler's view point they would be all right, but if they quoted it as the agreed standard then they will lose points on any submitted work.

If you are thinking of studying UK sociology then I would recommend contacting your local college and ask if it is possible to sit in on a class before you make your final decision. This is a good way to assess both the course subject and the type of teacher that is teaching the subject (whether or not their style would suit you and the way you learn).

Contacting a lecturer or college and ask for an advance copy of their new reading list, or a copy of the current reading list is always a good idea. This should give you an idea of the textbooks you need to look for.

You can also spend a couple of hours in your local library or bookshop and use the time to have a look through the selection of books that they have on the subject. That way you can get a feel for the subject.

Usually "Dummies" and "Nutshell" books are fine as a revision aids, however, in this case I will be warning my students to be careful of this book - especially the US bias and recommended follow-up information.

Unless you are studying US sociology specifically, I would recommend steering clear of this book.

Like other reviewers, I couldn't believe how american this book was for a so called UK edition.

I studied Sociology some years ago, and thought this would be a fun read and refresher course without being hard work. I was sorely disappointed. I have read several other in the " for dummies" series, and never before felt so let down.

Not only does it feel so American, it also feels lacking in substance. It wanders about without much purpose. If I'd purchased this as an introduction to sociology, I might never bother to read anything else on the topic, as it really left me cold.

As usual with this series, it is easy to find chapters that you want and go straight to areas of interest. However, I can't recommend much else about it.

Try a Sociology text book inteded for A level instead, far more informative and not too heavy going either. Best avoid this one until someone sorts out a proper UK edition.

Although this was, like the other 'for Dummies' books I've read, quite an easy to understand format and good to dip in and out of, I was really disappointed with it.

I loved Sociology at school (many years ago!) and was hoping this would renew my interest and extend my knowledge. However, the book is definitely geared more towards the American market, which (although interesting) wasn't what I wanted, or expected from a 'UK edition'!

My daughter has just finished her Sociology A level - so I think I'll just ask to borrow her text books!

This might be worth borrowing from the library before purchasing - just to see if it's something that's for you before wasting money on it.