Sociology of Sport Book Reviews and Suggestions.

I've included reviews of books I found useful during my studies as well as other titles that may be of interest. If you want further information regarding these books or wish to purchase them please click the book cover/icon to the left and you'll be taken to the appropriate page at Amazon.co.uk. Thank you for visiting and I hope you find these pages useful.

Ken Browne's 'Introduction to Sociology' is suitable for students from GCSE to A-level standard of for those with a new interest in sociology. A good starting point for those just starting out in sociology.

The Civilizing Process by Norbert Elias formed the theory basis of my studies. Elias' theory centres around the idea that throughout modern history there has been a more or less continual refinement of manners. This has included people internalizing norms regarding behaviour and manners. Elias connects these changes with the changing balance of power within European medieval society onwards which involved the formation of states and their monopolies on the right to impose taxes and the use of violent force. The states monopoly on violence, involving the formation of armies, made life generally less violent and people began to internalize a taboo of violent and symbolically violent acts. Elias termed these many changes as 'The Civilizing Process'. Elias discusses how humans for chains of interdependent relationships which can include both conflict and co-operation and involve a balance of power. Figurational sociology has developed from Elias's work and is a popular theory often used when investigating issues in the sociology of sport. This book is an excellent introduction to the theory. The cover to the left will take you to the page for purchasing the paperback edition, if you are interested in the hardback edition please click here.

'Sport in Society' by Jay Coakley. I find Jay Coakley's books very easy to read and therefore good introductions to the Sociology of Sport. His books are not only an introduction to the subject but include in-depth consideration of popular issues in sport including race, drugs, gender, violence, economy and politics. When discussing these issues he considers how they explained and viewed by different sociological theories. A good all round introduction to the subject.

I read Haralambos and Holborn's 'Sociology: Themes and Perspectives' 1990 edition. Ten years later an updated edition is available. I found it a very useful book to help me understand the basics of the major sociological perspectives such as Marxism, Feminism and Functionalism.

'Sporting Females' by Jennifer Hargreaves considers the history and sociology of females sports participation. Hargreaves writes a section on theories that have been applied to sport and how these have been applied (if at all ) to women and sport. Then, she charts the history of female participation in sport from Victorian to modern times followed by in-depth considerations of issues involving women's sporting participation including gender relations, femininity, gender stereotyping and the media representation of women in sport. This is an excellent in depth look at women's sport of interest to social historians, sociologists and anyone study women's studies.

"Handbook of Sport Studies", edited by Eric Dunning and Jay Coakley. This is a new, comprehensive collection of essays in the sociology of sport including theories and issues. This book is a serious investment for the sociology of sport student/writer.

'Sport, Health and Drugs: A Critical Sociological Perspective" by Ivan Waddington is a collection of essays. Dr Waddington was one of my tutors and one of the markers of my dissertation and let me tell you he has very high standards and these are applied to his own work as well as the students! From a figurational viewpoint Dr Waddington provides an interesting insight into the issues of drugs and health in sport.

'Sport Matters' by Prof. Eric Dunning was recently awarded a prize by the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport. Prof. Dunning was another of my tutors and was himself a pupil and friend of Norbert Elias. Prof. Dunning was one of the first people to apply figurational theory to the study of sport and society and is world renowned in the field. His work is an excellent introduction and example of figurational sociology 'in action'.

I found buying a Dictionary of Sociology an invaluable aide to my studies. Excellent for brushing up on popular themes or as a quick reference source I wouldn't be without one. The cross referencing is very helpful. The Blackwell Dictionary of Sociology is compiled by Allan Johnson.

Other titles which may be of interest to you:

'Sport, Culture and the Media' by David Rowe

'The Rites of Men: Manhood, Politics and the Culture of Sport' by Varda Burstyn

'Coming on Strong: Gender and Sexuality in Twentieth-Century Women's Sport' by

Susan K Cahn