My previous blog concerned C. Wright Mills and The Sociological Imagination. Here I want to go back to another influential book from the 1960s, Peter Berger's Invitation to Sociology, published in 1963. While Mills was writing mainly for fellow sociologists, Berger was offering an introduction to the subject for prospective students and anyone else curious… Continue reading Peter Berger: An Invitation to Sociology
Tag: writing
Revisiting C. Wright Mills and the Sociological Imagination
Having spent much of the past year writing about research methods, I found myself returning to a book I had not read properly for many years: C. Wright Mills's The Sociological Imagination. Published in 1959, it is still surprisingly fresh, especially when Mills turns from criticising sociology to explaining how researchers should actually go about… Continue reading Revisiting C. Wright Mills and the Sociological Imagination
Orwell, Klemperer and language
I was talking with a friend about what counts as good writing and mentioned George Orwell’s much celebrated essay on ‘Politics of the English language’. In it Orwell argues writers should think carefully about the language they use as doing so not only produces clear, concise articles for others to read but also enables writers… Continue reading Orwell, Klemperer and language
Academic writing retreats: are they worth it?
The university in which I work puts on two-day writing retreat events – these are not residential but just an opportunity to work on something in a dedicated space, in the presence of colleagues all doing their own writing. I try to go to these when I can, I find I can concentrate better in… Continue reading Academic writing retreats: are they worth it?
Is it few or less people?
I have to read a lot of essays and theses recently and notice that I am getting a obsessive about the 'correct' use of language. I don't like myself for it as I consider myself as flexible and tolerant about the way that language is used. More specifically, I think language rules should be descriptive… Continue reading Is it few or less people?
