The SSL ‘Book of the Month’ feature, highlights a book in our collection that has been chosen by one of our Subject Consultants. This may be a recent addition to our stock or an existing item that we would like to share with you.

Social advantage and disadvantage

edited by Hartley Dean and Lucinda Platt

Oxford University Press, 2016

Shelfmark: HN18.3.SOC 2016

The Book of the Month for May has been selected by John Southall, Bodleian Data Librarian and Subject Consultant for Economics, Sociology and Social Policy and Intervention. It was chosen because it is a thought provoking collection from major contributors to this area of study.

Book Overview:

Social advantage and disadvantage are potent catch-all terms. They have no established definition but, considered in relation to one another, they can embrace a wide variety of more specific concepts that address the ways in which society causes, exacerbates or fails to prevent social divisions or injustices.

This edited collection captures the sense in which any conceptualisation of disadvantage is concerned with the consequences of processes by which relative advantage has been selectively conferred or attained. It considers how inequalities and social divisions are created as much by the concentration of advantage among the best-off as by the systematic disadvantage of the worst-off.

Review:

‘…a key read for students in sociology, political science, public policy and economics, and an even more important one for the policymakers that will need to address and reduce the inequalities of our countries.’
Michele Fenzi, University of Essex

Where can I find it?

The title is currently on display on top of our New Books Display Area (located around the corner from our Library Issue Desk). We also have additional lending copies shelved at  HN18.3.SOC 2016

What would your SSL Book of the Month be? Do you have a favourite book in our collection? If so, we would love to know what it is. Add a comment below or email us.