New Books in Sociology

Patrick Gamsby, a scholarly communications librarian and author, dives into Henri Lefebvre’s eclectic thought. He reveals how Lefebvre’s metaphilosophy bridges theory and action, emphasizing the critique of alienation in modern life. Gamsby discusses happiness as linked to authenticity, contrasting commodified and genuine joy, while critiquing technology’s impact on ownership and sociality. He presents Lefebvre's revolutionary romanticism as a playful, human-centered approach to politics and urges us to imagine new possibilities beyond the constraints of modernity.

In The Indebted Woman: Kinship, Sexuality, and Capitalism (Stanford UP, 2023), the authors Isabelle Guérin, Santosh Kumar and G. Venkatasubramanian conceptualise how gender, debt, and capitalism are related. For over ten years, the researchers have been working in the Indian countryside of east-central Tamil Nadu, observing a credit market that specifically targets Dalit women. The book highlights not only the ways how credit is distributed, but also how it is repaid. Combining in-depth ethnography with statistical surveys and financial diaries advanced the understanding of how Dalit women deal with debt, exposing the ways in which capitalism shapes womanhood. The authors' nuanced attention to body, identity, caste, and class provides a comprehensive theory of the sexual division of debt for the first time.  Isabelle Guérin is Senior Research Fellow at the French Institute of Research for Sustainable Development, and Associate at the French Institute of Pondicherry. Santosh Kumar is a part-time researcher and founder and head of the Mithralaya School of music, dance, and arts. G. Venkatasubramanian has been a sociologist and Research Fellow at the French Institute of Pondicherry for the past thirty-five years. Sarah Vogelsanger is a researcher on social justice, gender, art and migration, based in London. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

Sabrina Mittermeier's edited volume Fan Phenomena: Disney (Intellect Books, 2023) analyzes the fandom of Disney brands across a variety of media including film, television, novels, stage productions, and theme parks. It showcases fan engagement such as cosplay, fan art, and on social media, as well as the company’s reaction to it. Further, the volume deals with crucial issues—race and racism, the role of queerness, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the advent of the streaming service Disney+—within the Disney fandom and in Disney texts.The authors come from a variety of disciplines including cultural and media studies, marketing and communications, cultural history, theater and performance studies, and more. In addition to interviews with fan practitioners, the essays feature both leading experts in fan and Disney studies alongside emerging voices in these fields. A vital new addition to the growing subdiscipline of fan studies, it will be popular with scholars of cultural studies, cultural history, and media studies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

The aging of America will reshape how we live and will transform nearly every aspect of contemporary society. Renowned life course sociologist Deborah Carr provides a lively, nuanced, and timely portrait of aging in the United States. The US population is older than ever before, raising new challenges for families, caregivers, health care systems, and social programs like Social Security and Medicare.Organized in seven chapters, Aging in America (U California Press, 2023) covers these topics: the history of aging and the development of theoretical approaches how cultural changes shape our views on aging the demographic characteristics of older adults today older adults' family lives and social relationships the health of older adults and social disparities in who gets sick how public policies affect the well-being of older adults and their families how baby boomers, Gen Xers, and millennials will experience old age Drawing on state-of-the-art data, current events, and pop culture, this portrait of an aging population challenges outdated myths and vividly shows how future cohorts of older adults will differ from the generations before them.Rachel Pagones is an acupuncturist, educator, and author based in Cambridge, England. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

Joe Greenwood-Hau, a Lecturer at the University of Glasgow, delves into how economic, social, and cultural capital influences political participation. He shares insights from his research, discussing how privilege shapes who gets involved in politics and who doesn't. Greenwood-Hau categorizes political participation into various acts, linking them to different types of capital. He explores public perceptions of privilege and the discomfort many feel in acknowledging it, while advocating for broader structural changes to enhance political engagement.

In a fascinating conversation, Adam Jones, a renowned political science professor at the University of British Columbia, dives into the complexities of genocide studies. He discusses the importance of visiting sites of trauma, revealing how these experiences enhance our understanding of mass violence. Adam also explores the intersection of gender in genocide, highlighting the role of male victims. He reflects on the field's evolution towards critical scholarship while connecting historical events to ongoing issues in Central Africa and indigenous struggles. A thought-provoking journey into a crucial subject!

Dr. Sarah Hoiland, a sociologist and author, dives into her ethnographic study of an all-women motorcycle club. She discusses how the club serves as a liberating space amidst the male-dominated biking world, exploring its unique initiation rituals and complex dynamics. Hoiland reveals why women are drawn to this community and what prompts some to leave, along with the challenges they face around race and sexuality. With insights on mentorship and recognition, she illustrates the powerful blend of rebellion and sisterhood within this vibrant subculture.

In this engaging discussion, Shatema Threadcraft, an Associate Professor at Vanderbilt University and author of *The Labors of Resurrection*, delves into the intersection of Black femicide and Morrisonian democracy. She highlights the haunting of Western democracies by racialized death and its impact on Black women, who face alarming rates of violence. Threadcraft explores active versus passive femicide, the dangers of pregnancy for Black women, and the failures of policing. She also advocates for grassroots organizing and counter-data movements to amplify marginalized voices and reshape democratic practices.

Janice M. McCabe, a sociologist and Dartmouth faculty member, discusses her research on college friendships and their profound impact on student life. She reveals how campus structures—like dorm living versus commuting—can significantly influence friendship formation. McCabe introduces concepts like 'initial and secondary friendship markets' and explores the emotional nuances of losing friends. She also emphasizes the importance of inclusive campus designs for fostering meaningful connections, highlighting differences across institutions.

Thomas Piketty, a prominent economist and history expert, dives into his latest work, exploring the complex relationship between capitalism and equality. He shares an optimistic perspective on how societies have progressively moved toward greater equality despite historical setbacks like slavery and imperialism. Piketty emphasizes the importance of understanding history to inform future reforms and advocates for reparations in cases like Haiti to address past injustices. His insights challenge contemporary views on inequality and the role of international institutions.