Summaries of books about Sociology:
Ghost Work
How to Stop Silicon Valley from Building a New Global Underclass
Mary L. Gray|Siddharth Suri
The book examines the hidden human workforce that powers technology platforms, performing on-demand, task-based jobs that are often invisible to users and undervalued by society. It explores the challenges these workers face, such as job instability and lack of labor protections, and proposes solutions to create a more equitable digital economy.
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Big Hunger
The Unholy Alliance between Corporate America and Anti-Hunger Groups
Andrew Fisher
The book critically examines the relationship between the anti-hunger industry, particularly food banks and major corporations, arguing that this partnership perpetuates food insecurity rather than solving it. It explores how corporate philanthropy and the influence of agribusiness shape food assistance programs, often at the expense of long-term solutions for hunger and health.
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The Myth of Martyrdom
What Really Drives Suicide Bombers, Rampage Shooters, and Other Self-Destructive Killers
Adam Lankford
The book challenges the common perception that suicide terrorists are primarily driven by ideology, arguing instead that they are often motivated by personal despair, mental health issues, and suicidal tendencies. It presents a psychological analysis of self-destructive killers, drawing on case studies and interviews to suggest that these individuals are more akin to conventional suicides than to heroic or altruistic figures.
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Disasters
A Sociological Approach
Kathleen Tierney
The book examines how social factors shape the impact of disasters and the response to them, highlighting the role of inequality, social networks, and institutional responses. It challenges the notion of disasters as purely natural events, emphasizing the importance of understanding the societal context to improve disaster preparedness and recovery.
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Getting Green Done
Hard Truths from the Front Lines of the Sustainability Revolution
Auden Schendler
The book presents a pragmatic look at the challenges of implementing sustainability practices in businesses and governments, drawing on the author's experiences in the field. It offers insights into the complexities of making real environmental progress, emphasizing the need for systemic change and the pitfalls of symbolic "green" actions.
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The Cost Disease
Why Computers Get Cheaper and Health Care Doesn't
William J. Baumol|Monte Malach|Ariel Pablos-Mendez|Lillian Gomory Wu
The book explores the economic phenomenon where services like healthcare and education become increasingly expensive relative to goods like electronics, attributing this to differing productivity growth rates across sectors. It argues that sectors with slower productivity growth, often those requiring personal interaction, face rising costs as they compete for labor with more productive industries, leading to what is termed the "cost disease."
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The Next Hundred Million
America in 2050
Joel Kotkin
The book explores demographic trends and projections for the United States, predicting significant population growth to 400 million people by 2050. It discusses the implications of this growth for suburban expansion, the economy, and cultural diversity, painting an optimistic picture of America's future.
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Rippling
How Social Entrepreneurs Spread Innovation Throughout the World
Beverly Schwartz
The book presents a collection of stories and strategies from social entrepreneurs who have successfully implemented innovative solutions to address various social issues globally. It outlines five strategic models that these change-makers use to create widespread impact, demonstrating how ideas can be scaled to effect systemic change across communities and societies.
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The Aisles Have Eyes
How Retailers Track Your Shopping, Strip Your Privacy, and Define Your Power
Joseph Turow
The book examines the sophisticated strategies that retailers use to track and analyze consumer behavior, both online and in physical stores, leveraging technology to personalize marketing and potentially invade privacy. It explores the implications of these practices on consumer power, privacy rights, and the broader retail landscape.
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Work Pray Code
When Work Becomes Religion in Silicon Valley
Carolyn Chen
The book examines how tech companies in Silicon Valley cultivate intense workplace cultures that fulfill employees' needs for belonging, identity, and purpose, effectively turning work into a secular religion. It explores the consequences of this phenomenon on individuals' personal lives, community engagement, and spiritual practices.
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