Introduction to Sociology

傅怀玉Nov 2025

3.0

Word count: 19K words
Chapters: 10

Summary

This book is an accessible introduction that invites readers to look at social life from a fresh perspective. In vivid, easy-to-follow language, it explains sociology's basic concepts, research methods, and core ideas, moving from social facts and the sociological imagination to the theoretical contributions of the four founding figures, and showing systematically how sociology helps us understand the relationship between the individual and society. Beyond foundational topics such as social structure, culture, and socialization, it draws on micro-level perspectives like symbolic interactionism to reveal how everyday interaction constructs social reality. The book is both a comprehensive introduction to the discipline and a cordial invitation to reexamine the world through sociological thinking.

Editor's review

This is a clearly positioned introductory book that links core content—social facts, the sociological imagination, and the theoretical contributions of the four founding figures—in accessible language, without piling up jargon or reducing the discipline to a few slogans. Moving from foundational topics such as social structure, culture, and socialization to micro-level perspectives like symbolic interactionism, it reminds readers that everyday interaction itself constructs social reality; this macro-to-micro arrangement helps build a coherent overall picture. Its value lies in cultivating a habit of observation: placing personal circumstances back into social relations and understanding them anew. It suits use as supplementary reading in university general-education courses, and also ordinary readers curious about social phenomena around them who want a set of thinking tools. There is no need to memorize every concept in one pass; focus on the shift toward "seeing problems sociologically," and take notes alongside observations of daily life for better results.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Introductory readers who want a systematic grasp of sociology's basic concepts
Students who need supplementary reading for university general-education courses
People curious about everyday social phenomena who want to build an analytical framework
General readers who hope to reflect on their own circumstances through a sociological lens

Not a good fit for

Readers with a professional foundation in sociology seeking theoretical depth
Those expecting a practical guide to quantitative research methods
Readers who want only light popular-science stories and prefer to avoid concepts

Reading tips

Read in chapter order, first building a basic framework of social facts and the sociological imagination.
After finishing each concept, try using it to explain a small recent event around you.
When reaching the section on the four founding figures, take brief notes comparing the issues they focused on.

版权信息
第一章社会学的邀请：一种看见世界的新方式
第二章社会学的想象力：在个人与世界之间架起桥梁
第三章四位奠基人（上）：孔德、马克思与社会秩序的探寻
第四章四位奠基人（下）：涂尔干、韦伯与现代性的诊断
第五章微观的宇宙：自我、符号与日常生活的互动戏剧
第六章文化的经纬与社会化的旅程
第七章社会不平等的根源：阶层、权力和流动的迷宫
第八章支撑世界的支柱：家庭、教育、经济与政治制度
第九章变动世界中的我们：全球化、社会运动与日常生活的再思

FAQ

Is this book suitable for readers with no background?

Yes. The book is positioned as an introductory reader, explaining basic concepts, research methods, and core ideas in vivid, accessible language, progressing from social facts and the sociological imagination to the founders' theories. Readers with no background can simply read in chapter order and use the book's examples to understand terminology; no prior sociological background is required.

Does the book explain how to carry out specific research methods?

From the introduction, the book covers sociology's research methods, but its focus is on helping readers understand how the discipline observes society rather than providing a complete operations manual. It is closer to an introductory overview, suited to building methodological awareness; for specific research design or data analysis, readers will need a dedicated methods textbook alongside it.

What place does symbolic interactionism hold in the book?

The introduction mentions that the book uses micro-level perspectives such as symbolic interactionism to reveal how everyday interaction constructs social reality. This belongs to the book's transition from macro structures to micro analysis, helping readers understand that sociology studies not only large institutions but also the generation of meaning in face-to-face interaction; it is an important link between basic concepts and everyday experience.

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About the author

傅怀玉 Author · Chinese

Fu Huaiyu is a contemporary Chinese author of popular works on traditional culture and classics. Public information about him is limited, with details such as his dates of birth and death and educational background not clearly documented. Nevertheless, the thirty-one works collected here make his focus clear. He mainly writes accessible interpretations of classics and general cultural introductions, with representative titles including "Understanding Chuanxilu in One Book" and "Understanding Liaofan's Four Lessons in One Book," as well as "Reading Liaofan's Four Lessons," "A Brief History of Tang Poetry," "A Concise Reader of Chinese Civilization," "Logic You'll Get Hooked On at First Read," and "Introduction to Sociology." His subjects span modern readings of traditional family instructions, name culture, introductory feng shui, logical thinking, and literary appreciation, touching also on Western philosophy and social culture. His writing is known for being accessible and close to everyday readers, seeking to turn traditional classics into approachable general-reading books for modern people.