What Use is Sociology?

"In What Use is Sociology?, Bauman peels back this hegemonic veneer, asking not what counts as sociology, but rather, what use is sociology? Via this shift, he encourages sociological practitioners to move beyond being blind followers of the latest sociologicaltrends. Instead, through self-reflexive analysis of his own work, Bauman provides a rare backstage glimpse into an engaged sociology that places people's concerns at its centre as central to its mission." Sociology "What Use is Sociology? is a series of intimate conversations, which mine Bauman's more than half a century of experience in the disciple-discussions which revisit truisms of the "sociological imagination" and which are littered with interesting anecdotes and asides particular to Bauman's own intellectual journey. Bauman's answers reveal the depth of his moral commitments and breadth of his critical engagement." LSE Review of Books "Sociology's principle purpose is to rouse people out of indifference and into action and it is this transition from inert to active knowledge that Bauman convincingly argues can bring about real change." Morning Star

Zygmunt Bauman (1925-2017) was Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the University of Leeds. His many books have become international bestsellers and have been translated into more than thirty languages. Michael Hviid Jacobsen is Professor of Sociology in the Department of Sociology and Social Work, Aalborg University, Denmark. He has published extensively on issues such as social theory, death and dying, and methodology. Keith Tester is Professor of Sociology at the University of Hull. He has published widely in sociology and is recognised as one of the leading interpreters of the work of Zygmunt Bauman.

Preface vii Introduction 1 1 What is sociology? 7 2 Why do sociology? 35 3 How to do sociology? 67 4 What does sociology achieve? 105