lexieesrw's review against another edition
4.0
It is a book written in a slightly different era, so some of the examples and language is a little outdated, but the principles remain exactly the same. Goffman sets his theory out in a practical and organised manner that makes it accessible to pretty much anyone. He also phrases much of his work in a scientific manner, staying true to the social science genre.
oceanlistener's review against another edition
2.0
This book definitely would be useful for someone who's never met another human being. For a functional person, it reads like something from the groundbreaking journal "Water is Wet."
alexander0's review against another edition
4.0
This book presents a lot of interesting propositions by which an identity in everyday communication can be interpreted as identity construction. Certainly much of this is based in the time it was written. For example, the notions of marriage, the notions of work-life, and the bounds of "social" themselves have changed since this time. Somehow, still, the message is clear enough to resonate more than half a century later.
There are bits here that are really timely for those who are interested in social media communication at the present moment. This pairs very well with folkloric accounts of social media communication. This is not to say the metaphor is perfect for online and offline lives, but the metaphor holds enough to inspire more questions rather than raise serious doubts. This account is very believable and valuable to a social media scholar or people interested in folkloric social lives at the least.
There are bits here that are really timely for those who are interested in social media communication at the present moment. This pairs very well with folkloric accounts of social media communication. This is not to say the metaphor is perfect for online and offline lives, but the metaphor holds enough to inspire more questions rather than raise serious doubts. This account is very believable and valuable to a social media scholar or people interested in folkloric social lives at the least.
t568's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. It was difficult to read very detailed and a hard concept to be in a book but anything I didn't understand straight away I would reread and get. I was told that Goffman had a tendency to mess with peoples head and well it did a little as I had to put the book down and think on a few occasions .I was relating every interaction I had or saw to the book
tomsan's review against another edition
3.0
I've wanted to read this book since I discovered Goffman as a student at Sheffield and so when I finally managed to get hold of the book I had high expectations. I must admit that I was a little disappointed. I thought the book would give me some kind of deep understanding into the psychology of public interaction but in fact it is a very sociological study. Goffman simply lists people's behaviours and then attempts to explain them.
Having said that, I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in sociology.
Having said that, I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in sociology.
adrianhon's review against another edition
5.0
Fascinating and surprisingly readable approach to social relations. Goffman's ideas are widespread in sociology and beyond these days, but it was useful to read a book-length description.
Of course, at almost 60 years old this book shows its age, but the ideas are still applicable – and where they aren't (e.g. due to changing household size, gender roles, social media, etc.) I'd love to see a contemporary analysis on Goffman's approach.
Of course, at almost 60 years old this book shows its age, but the ideas are still applicable – and where they aren't (e.g. due to changing household size, gender roles, social media, etc.) I'd love to see a contemporary analysis on Goffman's approach.