Surveying the South

Studies in Regional Sociology

John Shelton Reed

168 pages

Published: November 1993

charts, maps, tables

ISBN: 9780826209146

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Price: $45.00

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About This Book: John Shelton Reed is a sociologist who “can write clearly; has a sense of humor; and is not afraid to express opinion,” according to Choice. Reed’s popular, often humorous, books on the American South have earned him a reputation as one of the region’s most perceptive observers. Surveying the South collects some of his classic essays, offering an engaging introduction to the sociology of the South.
Beginning with the roots of regional sociology, Reed examines threads of Southern continuity and change, including such issues as Southern stereotypes and the changing definition of the South. His fascinating history of the elusive but often-cited correlation between cotton prices and lynching offers a profound warning to students and professors alike: always verify your references.
Reed offers several essays on what has been called “the central theme” of Southern sociology—race relations. He demonstrates the success of the civil rights movement in the South and explores the ways in which Southern identity has become more regional than racial.
Reed concludes this collection with a plea to sociologists to abandon the effort to “sound scientific.” “Let’s not seal the borders of our profession with an impenetrable style and vocabulary,” writes Reed. “Plainly, outsiders are not impressed.”
The result is a brilliant collection written in Reed’s trademark style—clear, witty, jargon-free—that will find a warm welcome among students of sociology and the South, as well as among general readers.
Authors and Editors: John Shelton Reed taught for thirty-one years at the University of North Carolina, where he directed the Howard Odum Institute for Research in Social Science and helped to found the university's Center for the Study of the American South. A founding coeditor of the quarterly Southern Cultures, he has received many fellowships and prizes and has been president of the Southern Sociological Society and the Southern Association for Public Opinion Research. He was once a judge at the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, and in 2001 he was elected to the Fellowship of Southern Writers. Reed has written many books including Kicking Back and My Tears Spoiled My Aim (both with University of Missouri Press). He lives and writes in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Praise For This Book: "An easy, enjoyable and (as usual) thought-provoking read."--Georgia Historical Quarterly

"Contains some wonderful examples of what academic writing has become and is itself proof that solid narrative can be combined with a clear purpose. This work is a valuable addition to the collection of anyone interested in the South. It provides an introduction to the work of some scholars who have been neglected and further food for thought about just what defines the South."--Southern Historian

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