New Books in Sociology
New Books Network
This podcast is a channel on the New Books Network. The New Books Network is an academic audio library dedicated to public education. In each episode you will hear scholars discuss their recently published research with another expert in their field.
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Discover our 150+ channels and browse our 28,000+ episodes on our website: newbooksnetwork.com
Subscribe to our free weekly Substack newsletter to get informative, engaging content straight to your inbox: https://newbooksnetwork.substack.com/
Follow us on Instagram and Bluesky to learn about more our latest interviews: @newbooksnetworkSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 22, 2025 • 58min
Shatema Threadcraft, "Labors of Resurrection: Black Women, Necromancy, and Morrisonian Democracy" (Oxford UP, 2025)
In this engaging discussion, Shatema Threadcraft, an Associate Professor at Vanderbilt University and author of *The Labors of Resurrection*, delves into the intersection of Black femicide and Morrisonian democracy. She highlights the haunting of Western democracies by racialized death and its impact on Black women, who face alarming rates of violence. Threadcraft explores active versus passive femicide, the dangers of pregnancy for Black women, and the failures of policing. She also advocates for grassroots organizing and counter-data movements to amplify marginalized voices and reshape democratic practices.
Nov 21, 2025 • 52min
Janice M. McCabe, "Making, Keeping, and Losing Friends: How Campuses Shape College Students’ Networks" (U Chicago Press, 2025)
Janice M. McCabe, a sociologist and Dartmouth faculty member, discusses her research on college friendships and their profound impact on student life. She reveals how campus structures—like dorm living versus commuting—can significantly influence friendship formation. McCabe introduces concepts like 'initial and secondary friendship markets' and explores the emotional nuances of losing friends. She also emphasizes the importance of inclusive campus designs for fostering meaningful connections, highlighting differences across institutions.
Nov 17, 2025 • 29min
Thomas Piketty, "A Brief History of Equality" (Harvard UP, 2022)
Thomas Piketty, a prominent economist and history expert, dives into his latest work, exploring the complex relationship between capitalism and equality. He shares an optimistic perspective on how societies have progressively moved toward greater equality despite historical setbacks like slavery and imperialism. Piketty emphasizes the importance of understanding history to inform future reforms and advocates for reparations in cases like Haiti to address past injustices. His insights challenge contemporary views on inequality and the role of international institutions.
Nov 16, 2025 • 1h 3min
Nayma Qayum, "Village Ties: Women, NGOs, and Informal Institutions in Rural Bangladesh" (Rutgers UP, 2021)
Nayma Qayum, an Associate Professor and author, dives into her book focused on women's collective mobilization in rural Bangladesh. She discusses how grassroots programs like BRAC's Polli Shomaj empower women to navigate and alter informal institutions. Qayum reveals the complex interplay of formal and informal norms and the successes women have had against issues like dowry and child marriage. She emphasizes the importance of understanding local practices to challenge existing narratives about poor Muslim women.
Nov 10, 2025 • 1h 2min
Jason A. Higgins, "Prisoners After War: Veterans in the Age of Mass Incarceration" (U Massachusetts Press, 2024)
Jason A. Higgins, a historian and Digital Scholarship Coordinator at Virginia Tech Publishing, explores the profound ties between military service and mass incarceration in his groundbreaking work. He unveils eye-opening oral histories of veterans who became entangled in the criminal justice system post-service. Highlighting the impacts of government policies rooted in racism and patriarchal values, he discusses the rise of Veterans Treatment Courts and the importance of acknowledging veterans' complex realities. His research also emphasizes the need for thoughtful commemoration on Veterans Day.
Nov 9, 2025 • 59min
Michelle Christine Smith, "Utopian Genderscapes: Rhetorics of Women's Work in the Early Industrial Age" (Southern Illinois UP, 2021)
Michelle C. Smith, an author and scholar of rhetoric and gender studies, explores women's labor in 19th-century intentional communities. She highlights the unique dynamics at Brook Farm, Harmony Society, and Oneida Community, discussing how these spaces addressed the value of women's work amidst industrialization. Smith challenges conventional notions of 'failure' in utopian communities and reveals their lasting impact on labor practices, childcare, and birth control. She also previews her upcoming research on the myths surrounding Rosie the Riveter, aiming to reshape historical narratives.
14 snips
Nov 9, 2025 • 52min
Christopher Ali, "Farm Fresh Broadband: The Politics of Rural Connectivity" (MIT, 2021)
Christopher Ali, an Associate Professor at the University of Virginia, dives into the challenges of rural broadband in America. He highlights the urban-rural digital divide and critiques current policies favoring big telecom companies over local providers. Ali suggests a model for rural broadband based on historical electrification efforts, advocating for democratic, community-driven solutions. He also discusses the implications of broadband on economic growth, education, and the shift toward seeing internet access as a potential human right.
Nov 7, 2025 • 47min
Birgit Abels and Patrick Eisenlohr, "Atmospheric Knowledge: Environmentality, Latency, and Sonic Multimodality" (U California Press, 2025)
Join Patrick Eisenlohr, an expert in sonic practices and ethnography, and Birgit Abels, an anthropologist with deep ties to Pacific cultures, as they dive into the concept of atmospheric knowledge. They explore how nonverbal and sonic experiences shape our connection to places. The duo discusses the significance of latency in understanding atmospheres, the role of sound in oceanic belonging, and how music serves as a medium for indigenous wisdom. Their insights bridge phenomenology, environment, and the emotive power of atmospheres.
Nov 6, 2025 • 53min
Russell T. McCutcheon, "Our Primary Expertise: A Future for the Study of Religion" (Rutgers UP, 2025)
Our Primary Expertise argues counter to the longstanding trend in the field by seeing religion as mundane and not unique, which means that the field's research and teaching can have relevance all across human culture, and well beyond academia. Russell McCutcheon offers a timely argument by taking seriously threats to the humanities now happening all across higher education. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology
Nov 5, 2025 • 1h 8min
Christopher Nelson, "When the Bones Speak: The Living, the Dead, and the Sacrifice of Contemporary Okinawa" (Duke UP, 2025)
Christopher T. Nelson, an anthropologist and author, dives into the haunting effects of war memory and sacrifice in Okinawa. He explores how local Okinawans are intertwined with the legacies of colonialism and military occupation. Nelson discusses the complexities of life and death through Okinawan concepts like inochi and mabui. Artistic representations and community practices highlight the ongoing struggle for identity and historical remembrance. He shares insights into the ethical implications of his research and the powerful voices of those affected by past traumas.
