Sociology Meets Memoir An Exploration of Narrative and Method

In this important and compelling new book, Margaret K. Nelson illuminates the many ways that memoirs can be of use to sociologists. Published memoirs can be forms of data for research; they can serve as exemplars of the 'sociological imagination' in the classroom; they can help us to understand how race, class, gender, and sexuality have shaped the careers of sociologists and; as short writing assignments, they can teach students to look at their own lives through a sociological lens. I highly recommend this excellent book for novice and experienced sociologists alike! (Jennifer L. Pierce, author of Queer Twin Cities) A multifaceted account of the relationship between memoir and the sociological imagination, written in clear, accessible prose. Memoir, Nelson shows, is a crucial source of sociological data and a powerful tool for teaching sociology. It is also a practice that must be understood sociologically: as an expression of a particular set of historical and structural conditions. Sociology Meets Memoir is an essential guide for anyone interested in the social forces that shape the stories we tell and the 'selves' we construct, from undergraduate students to leading scholars. (Christina Simko, author of The Politics of Consolation: Memory and the Meaning of September 11) In this refreshingly original book, Nelson plumbs a popular genre - the memoir - to make sociological sense of it. Conceptually rich and delightfully provocative, she leads readers on a journey through methodological and substantive considerations. With her wry humor, fluid voice, and engaging writing style, Nelson helps readers peek under the hood of the sociological enterprise. An enjoyable must read and an adaptable text for the classroom! (Karen V. Hansen, author of A Very Social Time: Crafting Community in Antebellum New England)