Books covering subjects from the power of reading to our 50th anniversary celebrations have been published by University staff.
New titles published from August to November 2015 include:
- Power of Reading: Socrates to Twitter, Frank Furedi
- Sociology of the Sacred: Religion, Embodiment and Social Change, Chris Shilling and Philip A Mellor
- Cheaper Living: Ideas and Recipes to Help You Spend Less and Still Live Well, Helen Swaffer
- Professional Writing for Social Workers, Louise Frith and Ruben Martin
- Marxism, Religion and Ideology: Themes from David McLellan, Department of Philosophy, David Bates, Iain MacKenzie and Sean Sayers
- 50th Anniversary Celebration Book, Development Office
- Criminal Capital: Violence, Corruption and Class in Industrial India, Dr Andrew Sanchez
Power of Reading: Socrates to Twitter
Professor Frank Furedi, School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research (SSPSSR)
The problem of reading in the 21st century is not technology but rather the difficulty society has in giving meaning to the ‘love of reading’. That’s the assertion in this new book by Emeritus Professor Frank Furedi.
It is often claimed that the arrival of digital media has reduced attention spans, leading to gloomy predictions of the ‘end of the book’ and the ‘death of the reader’. Professor Furedi suggests that ‘the narrative of gloom’ that characterises the cultural obituary of ‘the reader’ stands in contrast to the way in which the practice of reading was once regarded in literate societies.
Great thinkers, from the Renaissance onwards, once celebrated reading as a solution to the predicaments they faced. Professor Furedi questions the current tendency to devalue the reader, arguing that despite technological innovation and the influence of new media, the humanist ideal of the ‘discriminating reader’ capable of autonomous judgment can serve as the cultural ideal of the present day. He concludes that current concerns about the damaging influence of digital technology and the internet on literacy and the reader are misplaced.
Sociology of the Sacred: Religion, Embodiment and Social Change
Professor Chris Shilling, SSPSSR and Philip A Mellor
This monograph, first published in 2014, has been contracted for translation into Arabic.
The book explores the relationship between religion and secularization in the contemporary global era. In so doing, it seeks to advance sociological debates about how an increasing range of phenomena have come to be constructed and experienced as sacred, or extraordinary, and thereby contain the potential to shape social action in significant ways.
It is published as part of Sage Press’ Theory, Culture and Society series and has received praise from fellow professionals for being inspiring, novel and ambitious.
Cheaper Living: Ideas and recipes to Help You Spend Less and Still Live Well
Helen Swaffer, Campus Security
There are times in life when you need to reduce your living costs. This could be because you are a student, on a low income or just finding it difficult to make your money stretch far enough.
This book will gives hints, tips, ideas and recipes on how to spend less but live well – from making your own cleaning products to healthy, home-made food and saving money at Christmas.
Cheaper Living is described as a no-nonsense guide which will give readers’ inspiration and put them in a win-win situation.
Professional Writing for Social Workers
Louise Frith, Student Learning Advisory Service and Ruben Martin, SSPSSR
Communicating in writing is a highly valued skill which is central to the fabric of social work practice. Good writing is critical in informing sound decisions in the interests of service users, yet it is a skill that can often be neglected in the face of demanding social work roles.
This book aims to help social workers to write clearly, accurately and objectively in all contexts, so that they can communicate effectively with multiple audiences. It gives social workers practical guidance and advice on how to write unambiguously, efficiently and analytically, demonstrating how important writing skills are to the professional identity of social workers.
This book is an indispensable manual for all social work students, newly qualified social workers and experienced professionals who want a practical guide to improving their writing.
Marxism, Religion and Ideology: Themes from David McLellan
Dr David Bates, Dr Iain MacKenzie, School of Politics and International Relations and Professor Sean Sayers, Department of Philosophy
Few scholars have done as much to tease out the intricacies of Marx, ideology and religion and their overlapping concerns as the eminent writer and Marx biographer, Emeritus Professor of Political Theory David McLellan.
This book brings together a group of internationally renowned academics to reflect upon, develop and criticise McLellan’s analyses of these three themes with a view to contributing more broadly to scholarly debates in these fields.
The book was edited by Dr David Bates (Canterbury Christ Church University), Dr Iain MacKenzie (University of Kent) and Professor Sean Sayers (University of Kent). Contributors include Lord Bhikhu Parekh, and the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Rowan Williams. The book also contains an essay in which Professor McLellan responds to the contributions in the book.
50th Anniversary Celebration Book
Development Office
A commemorative book has been created to mark the end of the University’s 50th anniversary year.
The book includes photographs and images from Kent’s beginnings in 1965 through to the present day, and features the ‘Big 50’ photo taken at a staff event this summer. It also contains memories from staff, students and alumni, including members of the First 500.
Criminal Capital: Violence, Corruption and Class in Industrial India
Dr Andrew Sanchez, School of Anthropology and Conservation
In Criminal Capital, anthropologist Dr Andrew Sanchez argues that organised crime is an integral part of capitalism.
In the book, Dr Sanchez explores the relationship between neoliberalism, criminality and the reshaping of class in modern India. He discusses the association between capitalism, corruption, violence and labour politics centred on the Indian company town of the steel making conglomerate, Tata – best known as Britain’s biggest steelmaker and owner of Jaguar Land Rover and Tetley Tea.
Based on field research among a ‘casualised’ workforce in the industrial city of Jamshedpur, the book examines the links between the decline of employment security, and criminality in trade unions, corporations and the state.