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thecasualbooknerd's review against another edition
I’m going to read a different edition of this one.
guybrush_creepwood's review against another edition
4.0
This was a real eye opener for me when I started studying social theory. Durkheim illustrates how suicide, an intensely personal and private experience, is inextricably linked to numerous social factors. It's fascinating but definitely a dry, dense read. I'd recommend the cliff notes unless you're really into this sort of stuff.
levitybooks's review against another edition
3.0
While I remain generally suspicious of sociology as an academic discipline, what Durkheim attempts to do here is impressive.
There are lines of inference I disagree with, and some which are contextually outdated (related to marriage), but in the whole these interpretations still seem relevant.
Although it is readable for laypeople I would only recommend this for people with an academic/professional interest in general statistical trends for suicide. The explanation of the statistics, and those on how to rectify them in modern day standings, are lacking. I find it depressing that society seems to have gone in the opposite direction to the two suggestions Durkheim makes to reduce suicide, and the stats have since risen. The question remains: who is culpable?
****
[My Notes for future reference]
-Divorce trumps insanity, alcohohlism, economic status, race, climate, religion as variables for suicide.
-Widowers more often have lower rates than never married.
-Marriage often protects man, fatherhood often protects even more, motherhood often harms more than unmarried but to a lesser extent than any marital difference in man. A cynical idea is raised that where marriage/parenthood protects one gender it harms the other, and vice-versa.
-Seasonal variations (Summer stats always higher) and Christian denomination (Catholics almost always lower) are only nonmarital factors which seemed potential correlates.
-Durkheim suggests suicide is a constituent of society that cannot be eradicated, but when reduced, leads to a rise in homicide.
Egoistic=apathy+excessive individuation~disintegration with religious, domestic, political society.
Altruistic=deindividuation/"duty"~religious cult, army. Even then seen as uncommon.
Anomic=Alienation~nihilistic disgust/homicide-suicide tendency
Proposed solution: Strengthen societal control, equalise gender norms for marriage and parenthood so that divorce becomes less common.
There are lines of inference I disagree with, and some which are contextually outdated (related to marriage), but in the whole these interpretations still seem relevant.
Although it is readable for laypeople I would only recommend this for people with an academic/professional interest in general statistical trends for suicide. The explanation of the statistics, and those on how to rectify them in modern day standings, are lacking. I find it depressing that society seems to have gone in the opposite direction to the two suggestions Durkheim makes to reduce suicide, and the stats have since risen. The question remains: who is culpable?
****
[My Notes for future reference]
-Divorce trumps insanity, alcohohlism, economic status, race, climate, religion as variables for suicide.
-Widowers more often have lower rates than never married.
-Marriage often protects man, fatherhood often protects even more, motherhood often harms more than unmarried but to a lesser extent than any marital difference in man. A cynical idea is raised that where marriage/parenthood protects one gender it harms the other, and vice-versa.
-Seasonal variations (Summer stats always higher) and Christian denomination (Catholics almost always lower) are only nonmarital factors which seemed potential correlates.
-Durkheim suggests suicide is a constituent of society that cannot be eradicated, but when reduced, leads to a rise in homicide.
Egoistic=apathy+excessive individuation~disintegration with religious, domestic, political society.
Altruistic=deindividuation/"duty"~religious cult, army. Even then seen as uncommon.
Anomic=Alienation~nihilistic disgust/homicide-suicide tendency
Proposed solution: Strengthen societal control, equalise gender norms for marriage and parenthood so that divorce becomes less common.
franfernandez's review against another edition
4.0
Es fascinante ver los razonamientos y análisis -- Durkheim en acción. Qué suerte ver este libro en clase y no sólo las teorías de Durkheim de manera abstracta.
sailorfedo's review against another edition
4.0
Guiducci e Scaramaglia aiutano il lettore a comprendere ancora più a fondo il lavoro di Durkheim portando dati e confronti moderni. Una lettura che non si ferma al suicidio, ma che offre spunti su altre problematiche sociali di cui il suicidio può essere uno dei tanti sintomi di una società ammorbata. Lo studio è così moderno che lo sto utilizzando in relazione allo studio dell'incitamento all'odio in Giappone, per dirvi quanto è contemporaneo. Assolutamente da leggere.
boaroboros's review against another edition
4.0
Many passages are surprisingly elucidating. The statistics are obviously out of date and Durkheim's proposed solution to the lack of cohesion in society make little sense overlaid onto contemporary society. However the sections of texts where he goes farthest from simple interpretation of data are very thought provoking and very contemporary.