Knowledge, communication, and creativity are obsessions of contemporary modern societies. The rhetoric of information, imagination, improvisation and play have invaded our daily lives and work spaces. However, little attention has been paid to the sociological relationships among these elements, let alone their impacts as processes driving social change. This book offers penetrating explorations into the creative processes that are tied to knowledge production, shedding new light on: the impact of a general increase in knowledge on individuals, lifestyles, institutions and technologies; how...

Provides reviews of sociology conducted by prominent scholars. This book is organized into six parts: conceptual perspectives; social and cultural differentiation; changing institutions and collective action; demography, cities and housing; art and leisure; and social problems. Each chapter includes a comprehensive review of the literature.