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.

Sociology as a population science

by John H. Goldthorpe

Cambridge University Press, 2016

Shelfmark: HM585.GOL 2016

The Book of the Month for January has been selected by John Southall, the Bodleian Data Librarian and Subject Consultant for Economics and Sociology.

It was chosen because of the way it provides a rationale for recent developments in sociology which focus on establishing and explaining probabilistic regularities in populations and making use of large scale survey data.

Book Overview

John H. Goldthorpe is one of Britain’s most eminent sociologists and a strong advocate of quantitative sociology. In this concise and accessible book, he shows how sociology has become more securely placed within the ‘probabilistic revolution’ that has occurred over the last century in the natural and social sciences alike.

The central arguments of the book are illustrated with examples from different areas of sociology, ranging from social stratification and the sociology of the family to the sociology of revolutions. He considers the implications of these arguments for the boundaries of sociology, for its relations with other disciplines, and for its public role.

Reviews:

“… a remarkable book full of deep insights. It is a must-read for anyone who wishes to understand what sociological research is really about.”

Yu Xie, Professor of Sociology, Princeton University

“John H. Goldthorpe, best known for his research on social stratification and mobility, has also written incisively about the discipline of sociology for 20 years or more. Sociology as a Population Science is an important, mostly positive, and programmatic addition to that body of work.”

Michael Hout, American Journal of Sociology

Where can I find it?

We have two copies of the book. One is for library use only and the other can be borrowed on a normal loan. The library use only copy is currently on top of our New Books Display Area (located around the corner from our Library Issue Desk). You are welcome to remove it to have a look at it. The normal loan copy is on our open shelves. The shelfmark for the title is HM585.GOL 2016

We also have an eBook of the title. A link to it can be found on SOLO. It can be accessed in the library by all or remotely by University Card holders by signing in with your SSO.

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.