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| | Publisher: Worth Publishers
Salesrank: 604565
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| Our Price: $10.00 |
| Used Price: $0.38 |
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| Media: Paperback |
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Editorial Review:
This updated text takes an interdisciplinary look at eight extraordinary groups of people throughout American history. Each chapter is organized around a sociological principle which is then illustrated by a descriptive explanation of the lifestyles of these unique groups.
Extraordinary Groups: An Examination of Unconventional Groups Reviews:
Informative and Entertaining 
2005-09-21 - Every time I pick up this book, I find a passage I want to share with someone. It's like a textbook without the cost. If you've ever met me in an airport, I've probably already recommended this book to you.
Overview of the odder religious groups 
2005-04-25 - Argh I wasn't sure whether to give this book a 3 or a 4...but since I think it is worth reading through once and going back occasionally to read some parts again...I'll make it a 4...seriously it's a close call.
This book goes over the basics concerning several of the odder religious groups (Amish, Oneida, Gypsies, Unitarian Universalists/religious atheists, Christian Science, The Hasidim, Father Divine, Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses).
The most interesting sections by far were on the Amish, Oneida, Father Divine, Mormons and Jehovah's witnesses.
The sections on the Christian Science, Gypsies, Hasidim were boring, and man the section on Unitarian Universalists was downright irritating (for God's sake what kind of form of idiocy is it to become a religious atheist).
This book is a great resource in that it goes over the basic doctines and structure of these different cults (in depth) from the vantage point of disinterested observer. In the process you really learn which of your preconceived ideas concerning these groups were right and which weren't. Again it's great for just understanding these groups.
extraordinary 
2000-06-16 - extraordinary groups offers the reader an extraordinary view into some of America's most avoidant and little known religions. Several of the groups portrayed by the authors are seldom accessible to the general population. For instance, rarely is there truly a detailed account of the Gypsy movement as striking as the one in this book. Also, for the religious historian the analysis of the Father Divine movement is both intriguing and fascinating, in addition, this is a historical movement that few Afro-Americans are even aware existed. Thanks Zellner for a great read!
This is a well written, easily read basic sociology book.
1998-12-11 - It covers eight diverse associational groups in America. The groups that Kephart/Zellner chose to include are The Old Order Amish; The Oneida Community; The Gypsies; The Church of Christ, Scientist; The Hasidim; The Father Divine Movement; The Mormons and The Jehovah Witnesses. In the introduction, they state one of the primary reasons for choosing these eight subcultures is because "they illustrate major sociological principles in concrete form." (page 1) Another reason is the diversity of each of the groups. They state some of the differences as being economic, rural versus urban, and proselytizing versus self-growth sects. The third reason they give is "simply that they are interesting." (page 3) Extraordinary Groups fulfills each of these reasons. In addition, when Kephart/Zellner discusses a new sociological term they give a definition and then an example from the current group being discussed. The reader can then relate the term to actual situations. This technique furthers the reader's understanding of sometimes-difficult sociological concepts. Kephart/Zellner sites and recommends further reading material for each chapter in a Selected Readings section. I enjoyed reading about each of these groups.
