As I travel around the country this summer, I am teaching an online, asynchronous “Introduction to Sociology” course at Wake Forest University. For the first module, we are considering Peter Berger’s famous idea in Invitation to Sociology, “It can be said that the first wisdom of sociology is this–things are not what they seem.” OneContinueContinue reading ““New Glaze” by Zali Lawrence”
Author Archives: David Yamane
What If I Thought of My Book as a Work of Art Rather Than a Commodity?
I have been told by more publishers than I can (or care to) count that there is no market for my book on American gun culture, Gun Curious: Understanding America’s Evolving Culture of Firearms. For some, there is no market for books on guns generally; for others, no market for my particular low-heat, balanced takeContinueContinue reading “What If I Thought of My Book as a Work of Art Rather Than a Commodity?”
Remembering My Father Reading My Work
I have been reflecting a lot on my dad’s life these past 10 days. He and my mom gave me many gifts in life. Perhaps the greatest of them is supporting my academic pursuits no matter what, including my decision as a college sophomore to major in sociology. In dedicating my Senior Honors Thesis toContinueContinue reading “Remembering My Father Reading My Work”
Remembering Robert N. Bellah
I rarely blog here but I want to call attention to the uncorrected page proofs of a forthcoming book review I wrote of Matteo Bortolini’s biography of Robert Bellah, A Joyfully Serious Man. Anyone interested in Bellah’s work or life should read this book. page-proofs-for-review-of-bortolini-bellah-book-iss1158856-2-22-23-Download I conclude my review writing: “The truth Robert N. BellahContinueContinue reading “Remembering Robert N. Bellah”
Remembering Raymond Sakae Yamane (June 12, 1930 – February 17, 2023)
My father died after a long and full life and a mercifully short stay in the hospital. I am grateful that I made it from North Carolina to spend his last 21 hours with him. I am also thankful beyond words for my mother (especially), sisters, brothers-in-law, and nephews who no doubt kept my dadContinueContinue reading “Remembering Raymond Sakae Yamane (June 12, 1930 – February 17, 2023)”
10 Initial Reflections on President Donald J. Trump – Revisited 4 Years Later
On 9 November 2016, I wrote “10 Initial Reflections on President Donald J. Trump, for what they’re worth, by a half-awake regular citizen.” Four years later, with the election of Joseph Biden as the 46th POTUS, I thought I would revisit those initial reflections. My 2020 comments are in block quotes following the original points.ContinueContinue reading “10 Initial Reflections on President Donald J. Trump – Revisited 4 Years Later”
levels of racism: individual, organizational, institutional, and systemic
Really helpful disaggregation of the way that supra-individual racism works. Going to be using this in my Intro Soc classes this summer and fall.
July Message to Intro Soc Students about Class in Fall 2020
This week Wake Forest University is unveiling its new fall course schedule and students will have the opportunity/be forced to re-register for courses depending on their personal preferences/circumstances and availability of courses in different modalities. Faculty were given the opportunity to teach in one of four modalities: online, blended (traditional and with an online pathway),ContinueContinue reading “July Message to Intro Soc Students about Class in Fall 2020”
Small Teaching Online Book Summary
Over the past three weeks I have participated in a Wake Forest Center for the Advancement of Teaching summer reading group led by Director of Educational Development Dr. Kristi Verbeke. Over 30 faculty (IIRC) read and discussed Small Teaching Online by Flower Darby and James Lang. What follows is my reading notes and reflections onContinueContinue reading “Small Teaching Online Book Summary”
Choosing Adventure: Safe Travel in Dangerous Places book by Greg Ellifritz
As one of Greg Ellifritz’s Patreon supporters, I received an electronic version of his new book Choose Adventure: Safe Travel in Dangerous Places as a benefit of patronage. But Greg was good enough also to send me a hard copy when it became available recently. At first glance, I am not the natural audience forContinueContinue reading “Choosing Adventure: Safe Travel in Dangerous Places book by Greg Ellifritz”