Trained at UCLA and at NYU respectively, Laura Desfor Edles and Scott Appelrouth were frustrated by their inability to find a sociological theory text that could inspire enthusiasm in undergraduate students while providing them with analytical tools for understanding theory and exposing them to original writings from pivotal theorists. They developed this widely used text/reader to fill that need. Sociological Theory in the Classical Era introduces students to original major writings from sociology's key classical theorists. It also provides a thorough framework for understanding these challenging readings. For each theorist, the authors give a biographical sketch, discuss intellectual influences and core ideas, and offer contemporary examples and applications of those ideas. Introductions to every reading provide additional background on their structure and significance. This book also makes frequent use of photos, diagrams, tables, and charts to help illustrate important concepts. Table Of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction What Is Sociological Theory? Why Read Original Works? Who are Sociology's Core Theorists? How Can We Navigate Sociological Theory? Discussion Questions Chapter 2: Karl Marx A Biographical Sketch Intellectual Influences and Core Ideas Marx's Theoretical Orientation Readings Discussion Questions Chapter 3: Emile Durkheim A Biographical Sketch Intellectual Influences and Core Ideas Durkheim's Theoretical Orientation Readings Discussion Questions Chapter 4: Max Weber A Biographical Sketch Intellectual Influences and Core Ideas Weber's Theoretical Orientation Readings Discussion Questions Chapter 5: Charlotte Perkins Gilman A Biographical Sketch Intellectual Influences and Core Ideas Gilman's Theoretical Orientation Readings Discussion Questions Chapter 6: Georg Simmel A Biographical Sketch Intellectual Influences and Core Ideas Simmel's Theoretical Orientation Readings Discussion Questions Chapter 7: W. E. B. Du Bois A Biographical Sketch Intellectual Influences and Core Ideas Du Bois's Theoretical Orientation Readings Discussion Questions Chapter 8: George Herbert Mead A Biographical Sketch Intellectual Influences and Core Ideas Mead's Theoretical Orientation Readings Discussion Questions