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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 791.4572
EAN: 9781591023951
Edition: annotated edition
ISBN: 1591023955
Label: Prometheus Books
Manufacturer: Prometheus Books
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 317
Publication Date: 2006-03
Publisher: Prometheus Books
Studio: Prometheus Books
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Editorial Review:
Product Description: No one was better at turning everyday social interactions into memorable comedy sketches than Seinfeld creators Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David. The show, still very current in syndication, is filled with astute social observations delivered with great comic effect.
Sociologist, and avid Seinfeld fan, Tim Delaney explores the sociological implications of the famous comedy show in Seinology. Part sociology primer and part Seinfeld tribute, Delaneys book uses excerpts from many of the now-classic episodes to illustrate key facets of sociology. Along the way, readers are treated to an entertaining and educational tour of the whole Seinfeld series. In fifteen chapters, amusingly titled after some of the shows famous incidents, Delaney reviews the major contributions of sociology. Examples include: · "Tub is love." (socialization and personal relationships) · "Not that there is anything wrong with that." (sex and gender issues) · "You double-dipped the chip!" (social deviance) · "Happy Festivus: a festival for the rest of us." (religion) · "Look to the cookie, Elaine." (race and ethnicity) · "You dont have to help anybody. Thats what this countrys all about." (crime and social control) · "Yada, yada, yada." (and much, much more)
For sociologists looking for a unique way to introduce their students to the field, for high school students or undergraduates taking their first sociology course, and for every Seinfeld fan, Seinology is both educational and a fun read.
Average Rating: 
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Seinology is an entertaining book for Seinfeld fans, but it's long on plot summaries and short on analysis. The organization of the book is thematic, exploring such topics as religion, sexual relationships, family, and sports. For a book with academic pretensions, Seinology lacks a strong central thesis and sufficient analysis. Delaney too often simply strings together scenes from shows that deal with various topics without analyzing what Seinfeld had to say about them. For example, when Seinfeld had an episode about a circumcision (The Bris), what was it saying about this religious practice or religion in general? That such rites are ridiculous? That religious people are crazy? Many other shows addressed the subjects Seinfeld made fun of. But how did these views differ from, say, the view of "Friends" or "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" on relationships or religion? In short, Delaney doesn't get under the surface of what made Seinfeld unique (and brilliant). He shows that Seinfeld, as with sociology, explores many aspects of human behavior. Okay. But I think he could go further than that. I will venture that Seinfeld's take on human nature was that most people are functionally insane. Critical readers, not to mention critical Seinfeld fans, will come away from this book very hungry. Furthermore, from a literary point of view, some statements Delaney makes would get flagged in your average senior thesis. For example, do I really need to know that he fantasizes about Christina Applegate? Not really. The book also has some sloppy proofreading errors. This book makes for fun reading, but the great book about Seinfeld has yet to be written.
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In new condition. I was very pleased with it since I was giving it away as a Christmas gift.
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For anyone interested in knowing what sociology is all about, this book serves as an excellent introduction. Using episodes of "Seinfeld" to illustrate the main areas of sociology, it demonstates that this was a show about everything, rather than nothing. Just how many seats at a movie theater should one be able to save? Only "Seinology" knows for sure.
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Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David's syndicated show SEINFELD succeeds in large part because it's packed with social observations blended with comedy. The effect is hard-hitting and fun, and here in SEINOLOGY: THE SOCIOLOGY OF SEINFELD, sociology professor Tim Delaney examines how these social observations work. Chapters consider key facets of sociology and how they relate to Seinfeld shows, using chapters titled after some of the show's famous incidents to illustrate. A top pick for college-level sociology courses which wish to connect to student interests and experiences to teach or introduce the field of sociology.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
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I thought Seinology was a great book. If you do not know alot about sociology it helps you learn several different topics covered by sociologists and puts it into an example from which you can understand the topic. Giving the descriptions from Seinfeld helps the reader put everything together, and lets you think of examples in our own everyday lives where you can relate. It is funny to read the examples that Delaney gives in his book from Seinfeld. Not being a big veiwer of the show, after reading the book, I wanted to go rent every season.
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