Measuring Culture

Measuring Culture is the canonical text we have been waiting for in the sociology of culture. It is a massive achievement that will be the definitive account on the topic for a long time to come. I'll be thinking with it, teaching with it, and recommending it. Clayton Childress, author of Under the Cover: The Creation, Production, and Reception of a Novel

Although books that emerge from conferences often have little value beyond showing funders some 'product,' Measuring Culture is a brilliant exception. Some of the best and brightest twenty-first century cultural sociologists have both synthesized and extended the state-of-the-art in applying the rigor of scientific inquiry to the fluidity of culture. Measuring Culture is more than valuable; it is vital. Wendy Griswold, author of American Guides: The Federal Writers’ Program and the Casting of American Culture

Destined to leave its mark on the social sciences, this wonderful book offers phenomenologically-inflected multilevel approaches to analyzing meanings, cultural objects, and relationships. The splendid cast of authors, each of them midcareer stars, combine their distinct strengths to offer an innovative pluralistic state-of-the-art agenda that will appeal to many. Michèle Lamont, Harvard University

Nine coauthors have created one slim, graceful, exhilarating book. An analytic tour de force, Measuring Culture is a theoretical overview of what sociologists of culture might measure, culminating in engrossing narratives of three important research endeavors. We see creative scholars combining interpretation and innovative measurement strategies to deepen cultural analysis. If you’ve wondered whether innovations in measuring culture have a payoff, this book is your answer. Measuring Culture is a perfect tribute to John Mohr’s brilliance, his sparkle, and his humanity. Ann Swidler, coauthor of A Fraught Embrace: The Romance and Reality of AIDS Altruism in Africa

Can culture be measured—and if so, how? This collectively authored volume develops a learned and critical response to these questions, describing myriad ways sociologists have measured culture at multiple levels. Taking its own full measure of cultural meaning, and managing to reflect intelligently on the meaning of measurement itself, Measuring Culture is astute, open-minded, and eminently readable. Robin Wagner-Pacifici, author of What Is an Event?

This is a truly excellent book. It’s a reflection of the intellectual firepower the individual authors brought, but all the more so the magic a deep, generous collaboration can release. The core insight of culture is that the outcome of collective activity can exceed the combination of the individuals accomplishing it; this book is, therefore, a prime example of its object and a valuable gift to the next generation of culture scholars. Social Forces

An impressive achievement and is likely to provide guidance on empirical research in the sociology of culture for a long time to come. While situated in cultural sociology, Measuring Culture tackles questions of great importance to the discipline overall and will benefit readers from other sociology areas too. Canadian Journal of Sociology

An extraordinary piece of work. The authors managed to incorporate a wealth of insights into a short and highly readable
book, which students can use to navigate the current state of the art in cultural sociology, and which accomplished researchers will admire for the seamless integration of various theoretical and methodological discussions. Culture Section Newsletter

A well-written, well-researched, and well-conceived volume. It is an engaging read, packed with theoretical and methodological understandings that enrich one another. Administrative Science Quarterly

• Read a post on the Scatterplot blog about why measure culture?