The Blackwell encyclopedia of sociology /

This 11-volume encyclopedia replaces the second edition of the Encyclopedia of Sociology, ed. by E. F. Borgatta and R. J. V. Montgomery (CH, Jun'01, 38-5345), as the most up-to-date work on this topic. Consisting of 11 volumes and 1,786 essays arranged in one alphabetical listing, it is more extensive than the 397 entries and 5 volumes of the earlier encyclopedia. Entries in the current work vary in length from one page to several, and include cross-references and suggested readings. This encyclopedia includes a useful time line of about 700 of the most influential events, figures, and publications that have made an impact on the field of sociology. Twenty-two general categories, including key concepts and key figures, form the structure of the lexicon. Among the categories are "Crime and Deviance," "Culture, Popular Culture, Media, and Sport," and "Urbanization." Each of the general categories includes a listing of related subcategories. The section on hate crimes, under "Crime and Deviance," was introduced in the mid-1980s. During the same period, sociologists of sport became interested in virtual sports, and a whole new subfield emerged. International editors and authors have contributed to the entries' diversity. The print copy's online companion should be easy to access, search, revise, and update. Summing Up: Essential. Lower-level undergraduates through faculty/researchers. J. C. Phillips University of Toledo