New Books in Sociology

New Books Network

Episodes

Mentioned books

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Jan 3, 2025 • 1h 9min

Swethaa S. Ballakrishnen, "Accidental Feminism: Gender Parity and Selective Mobility Among India’s Professional Elite" (Princeton UP, 2021)

Swethaa Ballakrishnen, an Assistant Professor of Law and a sociolegal scholar at UC Irvine, delves into the intriguing phenomenon of gender parity among India's elite professional circles. She discusses how the elite legal firms, despite being male-dominated, offer a surprising representation of women. Ballakrishnen explores the unexpected mechanisms behind this 'accidental feminism'—from gendered socialization to family support—contrasting it with women's struggles in consulting. Her insights challenge traditional narratives about progress and highlight the complexities of achieving real equality.
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Jan 3, 2025 • 46min

Shannon Mattern, "A City Is Not a Computer: Other Urban Intelligences" (Princeton UP, 2021)

Shannon Mattern, a Professor of Anthropology at the New School for Social Research and author of "A City Is Not a Computer," dives into the complexities of urban life. She critiques the reduction of cities to data systems, arguing for a broader understanding that includes indigenous knowledge. Mattern emphasizes the importance of libraries as community touchpoints and advocates for diverse, inclusive urban planning. She also discusses the impact of collaboration in academia, revealing how diverse voices can reshape scholarly discourse and future urban designs.
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Jan 2, 2025 • 1h 4min

Shannan Clark, "The Making of the American Creative Class: New York's Culture Workers and 20th-Century Consumer Capitalism" (Oxford UP, 2020)

Shannan Clark, an Associate Professor of History at Montclair University and author of "The Making of the American Creative Class," discusses the formation of New York’s creative class during the 20th century. She explores the influential role of advertising and the New Deal in shaping culture worker experiences. Labor struggles and unionization efforts are highlighted, revealing their impact on today’s creative industries. The conversation also touches on the legacy of initiatives like the WPA and the Design Laboratory, showcasing the enduring challenges faced by culture workers.
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Jan 1, 2025 • 48min

Joanna Mizielińska, "Queer Kinship on the Edge?: Families of Choice in Poland" (Routledge, 2024)

Joanna Mizielińska, an associate professor at Collegium Civitas in Poland, investigates the nuances of queer families in Central and Eastern Europe. She discusses how these families defy conventional norms, shedding light on their unique dynamics and experiences in a predominantly heteronormative society. The conversation touches on queer parenthood, the tension between chosen families and origins, and the struggles faced by queer individuals in navigating domesticity. Mizielińska challenges prevailing Western narratives and emphasizes the importance of local contexts in understanding queer kinship.
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Dec 31, 2024 • 1h 25min

Oskar Jensen, "Vagabonds: Life on the Streets of Nineteenth-Century London" (The Experiment, 2024)

Oskar Jensen, a historian specializing in 19th-century London street life, dives into the vibrant yet harsh world depicted in his book 'Vagabonds.' He explores the lives of marginalized individuals, revealing their resilience through personal narratives that speak volumes of their struggles. Jensen discusses the irony of the 19th-century vigilante welfare system, contrasting the visible poverty of the time with hidden challenges in today's cities. He also highlights the experiences of street children and the complex realities faced by women and immigrants in Victorian London.
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Dec 30, 2024 • 57min

Ágnes Györke and Tamás Juhász, "Urban Culture and the Modern City: Hungarian Case Studies" (Leuven UP, 2024)

Ágnes Györke, an associate professor and leading researcher on cosmopolitan ethics in urban contexts, teams up with Tamás Juhász, who specializes in British and American literature and Central European film. Together, they discuss the often-overlooked role of Central and Eastern European cities in urban studies. Their work explores Budapest's cultural evolution, the urban-rural dichotomy, and how historical moments shape identity. They also reflect on the impact of the COVID pandemic on urban culture research, highlighting ongoing challenges and future avenues for exploration.
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Dec 29, 2024 • 43min

Marc Schuilenburg, "Hysteria: Crime, Media, and Politics" (Routledge, 2021)

Marc Schuilenburg, a Professor at Erasmus University and an expert in digital surveillance, shares profound insights from his book on the persistent nature of hysteria in modern society. He argues that our culture, fraught with media frenzy and heightened alarmism, cultivates a collective emotional state that influences politics and public safety discussions. Exploring the intersection of crime, media, and public perception, he highlights how irrational responses are often shaped by media narratives, ultimately questioning the impact of this hysteria on community well-being and governance.
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Dec 28, 2024 • 1h 5min

Mukulika Banerjee, "Cultivating Democracy: Politics and Citizenship in Agrarian India" (Oxford UP, 2021)

Mukulika Banerjee, a Professor at the London School of Economics, delves into the intricacies of democracy in rural India. She reveals how agrarian communities cultivate democratic values through everyday practices like cooperation and rituals. The conversation highlights the experiences of marginalized groups in the electoral process, the transformative impact of land reforms, and the connection between village dynamics and broader political outcomes. Banerjee's insights challenge traditional views, making democracy a lived experience rather than a mere institutional framework.
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Dec 24, 2024 • 42min

Randy Fertel, "Winging It: Improv’s Power & Peril in the Time of AI & Trump" (Spring, 2024)

Randy Fertel, author of "Winging It: Improv’s Power & Peril in the Time of AI & Trump," dives into the fascinating world of improvisation. He discusses how improv challenges cultural norms and influences everything from literature to politics. Fertel shares insights on the intersection of advertising and identity, using iconic examples to illustrate societal expectations. He also critiques the spontaneity in modern governance, emphasizing its risks. Through engaging anecdotes, he highlights the profound impact of improvisation on creativity in today's landscape.
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Dec 23, 2024 • 36min

Nick Couldry, "The Space of the World: Can Human Solidarity Survive Social Media and What If It Can't?" (Polity, 2024)

Nick Couldry, a Professor of Media at LSE, tackles the pressing issue of whether human solidarity can survive in the age of social media. He discusses how Big Tech has taken control of our social interactions, creating artificial environments that harm community bonds. Couldry also critiques current social media models for exacerbating polarization and youth mental health issues, advocating for a redesign to foster solidarity. He emphasizes the need for ethical reforms in AI and capitalism to protect vulnerable populations amidst these challenges.

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