The Meanings of Social Life: A Cultural Sociology

I went to the library and read the first couple of paragraphs of, "The Meanings of Social Life," by Jeffrey C. Alexander. It is quite an interesting piece of literature. It talks about unconscious cultural structures and how to understand them. Alexander argues that, once these deep patterns of meaning are exposed, then and only then will we comprehend the strength of power and degradation. I think it would be an interesting read because it would give me a little insight into why humans act the way we do and it will give me a new outlook on culture and the social world.

Jeffrey C. Alexander is the Lillian Chavenson Saden Professor of Sociology at Yale University. He is also Co-Director of the Center for Cultural Sociology (CCS). His are of work deals with theory, culture, and politics. He has a great appeal to ethos because of all of his credentials and knowledge, and he is a great candidate to write this book. I would feel a complete sense of trust while reading it, knowing that this is what he studies and is teaching in a university. Overall, I think that this book is something worth reading if you are the intellectual type and Alexander proves his credibility as the author.