The Sociological Imagination

In this book, C. Wright Mills develops the concept of the 'sociological imagination,' which is the ability to see the connections between personal experiences and the wider social and historical forces.

Mills critiques the dominant schools of sociology of his time, particularly 'grand theory' and 'abstract empiricism,' and argues for a sociology that is grounded in the real problems of the world.

He emphasizes the importance of understanding power relations, historical realities, and comparative social structures, and warns against the bureaucratization of social science research.

The book is a call for sociologists to engage in a more humanistic and problem-solving oriented approach to their discipline.