Sociology Meets Memoir by Margaret K Nelson

Sociology Meets Memoir by Margaret K Nelson

Beyond entertainment value, however, Margaret K. Nelson argues that memoirs hold potential as powerful resources for sociologists to engage with, analyze, and teach. A short and accessible guide to the significance of memoirs for the field of sociology, from their many possible uses to the numerous challenges they pose.

"In this important and compelling new book, Margaret KNelson illuminates the many ways that memoirs can be of use to sociologists. Published memoirs can be forms of data for research; they can serve as exemplars of the ‘sociological imagination’ in the classroom; they can help us to understand how race, class, gender, and sexuality have shaped the careers of sociologists and; as short writing assignments, they can teach students to look at their own lives through a sociological lens. I highly recommend this excellent book for novice and experienced sociologists alike!" * Jennifer L. Pierce, author of Queer Twin Cities *
"A multifaceted account of the relationship between memoir and the sociological imagination, written in clear, accessible prose. Memoir, Nelson shows, is a crucial source of sociological data and a powerful tool for teaching sociology. It is also a practice that must be understood sociologically: as an expression of a particular set of historical and structural conditions. Sociology Meets Memoir is an essential guide for anyone interested in the social forces that shape the stories we tell and the ‘selves’ we construct, from undergraduate students to leading scholars." * Christina Simko, author of The Politics of Consolation: Memory and the Meaning of September 11 *
"In this refreshingly original book, Nelson plumbs a popular genre – the memoir – to make sociological sense of it. Conceptually rich and delightfully provocative, she leads readers on a journey through methodological and substantive considerations. With her wry humor, fluid voice, and engaging writing style, Nelson helps readers peek under the hood of the sociological enterprise. An enjoyable must read and an adaptable text for the classroom!" * Karen V. Hansen, author of A Very Social Time: Crafting Community in Antebellum New England *

Margaret K. Nelson is A. Barton Hepburn Professor of Sociology Emerita at Middlebury College. Most recently she is the author of Keeping Family Secrets: Shame and Silence in Memoirs from the 1950s and coauthor, with Emily K. Abel, of The Farm and Wilderness Summer Camps: Progressive Ideals in the Twentieth Century.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781479827329
ISBN 10	1479827320
Title	Sociology Meets Memoir
Author	Margaret K Nelson
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	New York University Press
Year published	2024-12-17
Number of pages	208
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.