Overview

Arguing that death is the central force shaping our social life and order, Michael Kearl draws on a wide variety of disciplines to provide a broad sociological perspective on the interrelationships of life and death. He shows how death contributes to social change, and how the meanings of death are generated to serve social functions. Working from a social as well as a psychological perspective, Kearl analyses traditional topics, including ageing, suicide, grief, and medical ethics. He also examines current issues such as the impact of the AIDS epidemic on social trust, governments' use of death in symbolism, the business of death and dying, the political economy of doomsday weaponry, and death in popular culture.

Full Product Details

9780195045154

Table of Contents

Reviews

A comprehensive and fascinating introduction to the sociology of death and dying. It could easily be used for classes ranging from gerontology and the life course to deviance....With the sociology of culture growing, Kearl's discussion of various real and symbolic aspects of death, dying, and endings is a wonderful place to start. --Contemporary Sociology<br> A comprehensive treatment of the subject from a sociological perspective. --Rrobin Moremenuili, Northern Illinois University<br> Comprehensive and fascinating introduction to the sociology of death and dying. It could easily be used for classes ranging from gerontology and the life course to deviance. --Contemporary Sociology<br> A comprehensive and contemplative textbook on death and dying in cross cultural perspective. --Nexus<br> The strength of this text is itts thorough socioological delineation of all the institutions and influences that bear upon the experience of death shared by many...Americans. --Teaching Sociology<br>

<br> A comprehensive and fascinating introduction to the sociology of death and dying. It could easily be used for classes ranging from gerontology and the life course to deviance....With the sociology of culture growing, Kearl's discussion of various real and symbolic aspects of death, dying, and endings is a wonderful place to start. --Contemporary Sociology<br> A comprehensive treatment of the subject from a sociological perspective. --Rrobin Moremenuili, Northern Illinois University<br> Comprehensive and fascinating introduction to the sociology of death and dying. It could easily be used for classes ranging from gerontology and the life course to deviance. --Contemporary Sociology<br> A comprehensive and contemplative textbook on death and dying in cross cultural perspective. --Nexus<br> The strength of this text is itts thorough socioological delineation of all the institutions and influences that bear upon the experience of death shared by many...Americans. --Teaching Sociology

Author Information

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available