This accessible book introduces the story of 'social science', with coverage of history, politics, economics, sociology, psychology, anthropology, and geography.
Key questions include:
- How and why did the social sciences originate and differentiate?
- How are they related to older traditions that have defined Western civilization?
- What is the unique perspective or 'way of knowing' of each social science?
- What are the challenges-and alternatives-to the social sciences as they stand in the twenty-first century?
Eller explains the origin, evolution, methods, and the main figures, literature, concepts, and theories in each discipline. The chapters also feature a range of contemporary examples, with consideration given to how the disciplines address present-day issues.
Eller's book is a logically structured and highly readable overview of the key tenets of various social science disciplines.
- Wendy Rouse, San José State University, USA
