Work and Society

Work and Society is an important new text about the sociology of work and employment. It provides both undergraduate and postgraduate students of sociology, business and politics, with a firm and enjoyable foundation to this fascinating area of sociology, giving comprehensive coverage of traditional areas of the sub-discipline as well as new trends and developments. The book is divided into three complementary and interconnected sections – investigating work, work and social change and understanding work. These sections allow readers to explore themes, issues and approaches by examining how sociologists have thought about, and researched work and how the sub-discipline has been influenced by wider society itself. Novel features include separate chapters on researching work, domestic work, unemployment and work, and the representation of work in literary and visual media.

'As both the nature and organization of work changes, so does sociology as it becomes more interdisciplinary. At this defining moment, Work and Society provides a thoughtful and accessible study that helps us rethink and expand sociological approaches to the study of modern workplaces.' - John Russo and Sherry Linkon, Center for Working-Class Studies, As both the nature and organization of work changes, so does sociology as it becomes more interdisciplinary. At this defining moment, Work and Society provides a thoughtful and accessible study that helps us rethink and expand sociological approaches to the study of modern workplaces.John Russo and Sherry Linkon, Center for Working-Class Studies, Youngstown State University, USAThe authors draw upon an impressive array of material to create a clear, engaging and well-structured examination of the major sociological analyses of work. Written with a strong and welcome sense of the historical development of the discipline, Work and Society will be a key resource for students and lecturers for many years to come.Marek Korczynski, Professor of Sociology of Work, Loughborough Business School, UK A respectful and reflexive intervention, offering substantial overviews of key areas in the sociology of work, along with new insights to established traditions, developing the authors’ own theoretical and empirical agenda for re-invigorating a field they are passionate about. This book offers a clearly sociological approach whilst integrating the affordances of multi-disciplinarity and a sustained focus on work that draws the boundaries beyond the workplace. Highly recommended!Susan Halford, Professor of Sociology, University of Southampton, UKStrangleman and Warren have admirably achieved their aim to celebrate the sociological study of work in this state-of-the-art volume. Their overview is both lucid and comprehensive, up-to-date and historical, and wide-ranging and focused. The attention to representations and cultures of work is particularly refreshing. The authors have produced a much needed contribution to the field which will do much to enthuse students and specialists alike.Miriam A. Glucksmann, Professor of Sociology, University of Essex, UKMaking a case for a multi-dimensional, multi-faceted sociology of work, Strangleman and Warren present both a primer in the ways sociologists have construed and studied work and a fascinating series of suggestive explorations of topics, sources and methods that have been overlooked or neglected. Their advocacy of borrowing from culture studies and the visual arts, their careful investigations of domestic work and unemployment, and their ubiquitous historical understanding of how the changing reality of work shapes the continuing development of sociology – all make Work and Society a stimulating new departure for the sociological imagination. But its major achievement, in my view, is that it makes the mundane activities of daily work seem fascinating and mysterious again.Jack Metzgar, Emeritus Professor of Humanities and Social Justice, Roosevelt University, Chicago, USA

Tim Strangleman is a Reader in Sociology at the School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research, University of Kent, where he teaches and researches the sociology of work. Areas of interest include work identity and meaning, deindustrialisation, nostalgia, and visual methods and approaches.Tracey Warren is Associate Professor and Reader in Sociology, University of Nottingham. Her research interests lie in the sociologies of work and employment, and of social divisions.