New Books in Sociology

New Books Network

Episodes

Mentioned books

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May 3, 2024 • 1h 4min

Céline Bessière and Sibylle Gollac, "The Gender of Capital: How Families Perpetuate Wealth Inequality" (Harvard UP, 2023)

Céline Bessière and Sibylle Gollac discuss how women face economic disadvantages in wealth accumulation due to unfair family dynamics and legal biases. They highlight the impact of inheritance, divorce proceedings, and societal norms on perpetuating wealth inequality. The podcast explores the undervalued financial contributions of women within families and challenges ingrained sexism in legal practices.
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May 2, 2024 • 36min

Nadine A. Sinno, "A War of Colors: Graffiti and Street Art in Postwar Beirut" (U Texas Press, 2024)

Dr. Nadine Sinno discusses graffiti & street art in postwar Beirut, showcasing how these art forms comment on social dynamics, forge civic engagement, and give voice to marginalized groups. She explores the evolution of graffiti in Beirut, its role in activism, and its reflection of collective consciousness, emphasizing unity, resistance, and solidarity.
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May 2, 2024 • 56min

Harry Pettit, "The Labor of Hope:: Meritocracy and Precarity in Egypt" (Stanford UP, 2023)

In this podcast, guest Harry Pettit discusses his book focusing on underemployed men in Egypt striving for fulfilling careers. The discussion revolves around the emotional labor of hope, exploring how capitalism affects aspirations, meritocracy, and precarious lives in Egypt. The narrative highlights various coping mechanisms like education, migration, consumption, and prayer, shedding light on the challenges faced by young men in a capitalist economy.
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May 2, 2024 • 1h 9min

Shu Yang, "Untamed Shrews: Negotiating New Womanhood in Modern China" (Cornell UP, 2023)

Shu Yang, a scholar focusing on negotiating new womanhood in modern China, discusses the persistence of the 'shrew' archetype and its connection to the 'new woman' in modern Chinese literature. She explores how the shrew was used to depict suffragettes, jealousy, promiscuity, and Communist ideals. The podcast delves into the evolution of shrew literature, challenges traditional gender roles, and reflects on the author's research journey.
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May 1, 2024 • 60min

Justin O’Connor, "Culture is Not an Industry: Reclaiming Art and Culture for the Common" (Manchester UP, 2024)

Dr. Justin O'Connor challenges the commercialization of culture as an industry, advocating for its renewal as a social contract. Topics include the transformative power of culture in urban development, evolution of cultural definitions, the dual perceptions of art, cultural consumption evolution, challenges faced by artists, and redefining culture as a public good.
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May 1, 2024 • 43min

Mohamed Shafeeq Karinkurayil, "The Gulf Migrant Archives in Kerala: Reading Borders and Belonging" (Oxford UP, 2024)

Dr. Mohamed Shafeeq Karinkurayil, an expert on Gulf migrant archives in Kerala, discusses the cultural impact of Gulf migration on Kerala. They explore interconnected narratives of migration and politics, cultural representations in literature and photography, and the evolving visual depictions of migration in Malayalam cinema. The podcast delves into the dissonance between private and public discourses on the Gulf and the construction of affiliative communities across borders.
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Apr 30, 2024 • 46min

Adia Harvey Wingfield, "Gray Areas: How the Way We Work Perpetuates Racism and What We Can Do to Fix It" (Amistad Press, 2023)

Sociologist Adia Harvey Wingfield discusses how workplace dynamics perpetuate racial inequities, highlighting the 'gray areas' crucial for advancement. Through interviews with diverse workers, she uncovers systemic issues that hinder black employees from progressing to leadership roles. The impact of hierarchy, gig work, network disparities, and allyship in addressing racial inequalities are explored, offering solutions to combat racism in work environments.
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Apr 30, 2024 • 48min

Jaume Aurell, "What Is a Classic in History?: The Making of a Historical Canon" (Cambridge UP, 2024)

Historian Jaume Aurell discusses the concept of classics in history, exploring how certain texts become enduring classics and shape historical canons. He delves into the processes of permanence and change in historiography, encouraging readers to re-evaluate their ideas of history. The podcast also touches on the importance of considering historical canons beyond Western civilization, advocating for a more global approach in understanding and teaching history.
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7 snips
Apr 29, 2024 • 48min

John O'Brien, "States of Intoxication: The Place of Alcohol in Civilisation" (Routledge, 2018)

Sociologist John O'Brien discusses the role of alcohol in society, highlighting its importance in community development and tax bases. The podcast explores the historical context of alcohol, state reliance on intoxication for revenue, and the cultural differences in alcohol consumption. It also delves into the impact of industry concentration on consumer behavior, the link between alcohol, creativity, and urban revitalization, and the cyclical nature of government policies on substance consumption.
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Apr 23, 2024 • 49min

Gary S. Cross, "Free Time: The History of an Elusive Ideal" (NYU Press, 2024)

Author Gary S. Cross discusses the history of free time and its evolution from leisure activities to modern time-wasting habits. He explores the societal expectations of increased free time with industrialization but the reality of limited and unsatisfying leisure time. The podcast covers the cultural, social, and economic factors influencing our perceptions of free time, from peasant festivals to digital distractions, revealing the roots of our obsession with work and productivity.

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