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How sociologists can approach memoir in their writing, research, and in the classroom
Memoirs attract millions of readers with their compelling life stories, vivid details, and often startling revelations. Beyond entertainment value, however, Margaret K. Nelson argues that memoirs hold potential as powerful resources for sociologists to engage with, analyze, and teach. Sociology Meets Memoir is a short and accessible guide to the significance of memoirs for the field of sociology, from their many possible uses to the numerous challenges they pose.
This guide enables sociologists to learn about the different ways memoirs have been used as a medium through which to exercise and encourage the “sociological imagination.” Nelson offers clear definitions of the various and nuanced terms associated with memoir and examples of how different types of stories have been effectively integrated into scholarly research. Readers will gain an understanding of the immense power of memoirs as sociological resources, offering unique access to voices from the past as well as voices from the present which are traditionally marginalized. Nelson also focuses on the genre’s limitations and the difficult methodological questions that accompany their use in scholarly endeavors.
Sociology Meets Memoir is a vital tool for all sociologists interested in this growing genre. By reading this guide, students and teachers alike will gain an understanding of how they might approach the current outpouring of memoirs and incorporate them into their teaching, learning, writing, and research.
"A multifaceted account of the relationship between memoir and the sociological imagination, written in clear, accessible prose. Memoir, Nelson shows, is a crucial source of sociological data and a powerful tool for teaching sociology. It is also a practice that must be understood sociologically: as an expression of a particular set of historical and structural conditions. Sociology Meets Memoir is an essential guide for anyone interested in the social forces that shape the stories we tell and the ‘selves’ we construct, from undergraduate students to leading scholars."
"In this refreshingly original book, Nelson plumbs a popular genre – the memoir – to make sociological sense of it. Conceptually rich and delightfully provocative, she leads readers on a journey through methodological and substantive considerations. With her wry humor, fluid voice, and engaging writing style, Nelson helps readers peek under the hood of the sociological enterprise. An enjoyable must read and an adaptable text for the classroom!"
"This approachable and highly readable book can serve as a guide to sociologists wishing to work with memoirs or simply be better informed about their next leisurely read. Nelson’s clear prose, useful examples and practical tips, and her passion and knowledge of the subject make for an engaging book."