"This, then, is the overall strength of The Social Lens: its broad coverage from the roots of positivism and modernity to the post modern theme of disillusioned discontent...As a textbook is informally written and its tone invites the student reader in to explore with the author each new chapter of uncovered ground....Allan also encourages students to think beyond the theory on the page to its implications for global society by providing what he calls "theory you can use" to assist students in further exploration.  Allan's is a fresh, new and bold approach to the theory textbook."

—Barbara J. Denison, Shippensburg University
TEACHING SOCIOLOGY, Vol. 36, 2008 (April:161-184)

The Social Lens: An Invitation to Social and Sociological Theory covers the key thinkers in Western thought for the past 200 years. Written in a conversational style that is both appealing and provocative, this text uses real life examples to draw readers in and invite them to consider the ideas that have shaped our understanding of society.

Key Features:

• Provides in-depth coverage of 30 individual theorists: The book is divided into three sections covering the classics, the organized perspectives, and contemporary critiques and visions. Importantly, the book gives full treatment to and explicitly allows each of the 30 authors their individual perspectives and voices, allowing critical theorists to be critical and positivist theorists to be scientific.
• Emphasizes the problem of modernity/postmodernity as a thinking framework: Roughly organized around the theme of modernity, the book traces theories of race and gender through the three periods, beginning with the positive philosophy of Harriet Martineau and ending with the disenchantment of Jean Baudrillard.
• Explicitly written as an invitation to students: This book contains unparalleled pedagogical features, including study guides, “Seeing Further,” “Defining the Perspective,” “Essential Theorist” boxes, “Glossary of Terms,” and “Building Your Theory Toolbox.” These pedagogical features help the student organize and review the material, see their world in theoretical terms, and move beyond the book to begin their own research in theory.

Sample Chapters and example of student favorite "Building Your Theory Toolbox" feature -- online now! Click on 'Sample Chapters and Materials' at left to explore:

• Chapter 4: The Individual in Modern Society - George Herbert Mead and Georg Simme
• Chapter 7: Conflict and Critical Theories
• Chapter 14: Post-Theories
• Chapter 4: "Building Your Theory Toolbox" - praised by professors and students alike!

Intended Audience:
This is an ideal core textbook for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in social theory including Combined Sociological Theory, Classical Sociological Theory, and Contemporary Sociological Theory.

“This looks like it will be a great text. It covers the major schools and theorists in a logical and comprehensive way, and in a wonderful style that will engage students. It is engaging, informal and interesting, yet it does not slight the nuances of the content of the material covered.” —Stephen R. Couch, The Pennsylvania State University

“Teaching theory is a conversation with students, where the meaning of the social world and the theories we use to describe it must be reflected and played with. What I am looking for in a textbook is to lay the ground for this conversation, that practices some cognitive moves with students that I then can built on in class. And that is precisely what Allan does.” —Stephan Groschwitz, University of Cincinnati