In both the social sciences and the humanities; current scholarship typically examines speech and social action as separate entities. But do they truly act in isolation? In Narrative Social Structure; Recep Senturk challenges the prevailing understandings of speech and social action; of actor and organization. Using the example of the hadith transmission network; Senturk demonstrates the synergy between speech and action in producing social reality. Hadith; a brief narrative about the Prophet Muhammad transmitted across generations by a chain of narrators; represents the longest recorded social network presently known to sociologists and historians. This book presents the first attempt by a sociologist to unearth the long hadith transmission network from ancient historical sources and analyze it using the most recent qualitative and quantitative analytical tools. It demonstrates how both synchronic and diachronic analyses uncover the structure of generational and inter-generational discourse networks used in the process of identity and authority formation. The author concludes that these networks of narrative are constantly at work in the world. Even if we are not aware of it; we are always part of them.
#22454 in Books CROWN 2017-05-09 2017-05-09Format: Deckle EdgeOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 2 9.53 x 1.54 x 6.60l; 1.25 #File Name: 0804137285576 pagesCROWN
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A nice dose of realityBy Dean S. MaclaughlinRevolutions are never pretty. Too much of American history (and more than just the revolution) have been airbrushed into seeming clean and honorable. This book reveals the revolution as a civil war. It also shows how British cruelty gave a PR victory to the rebelling Americans.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Interesting stories of the reality of conflict and warBy Kiwi viewerI'm enjoying reading this work focusing on the violence between political opponents in the first instance. The rebels obviously didn't tolerate different views. The violence of conflict during the war quickly escalated even though the parties at least initially saw themselves as quarreling brothers.23 of 24 people found the following review helpful. Scars of Independence is a bloody account of the American Revolution which reveals the brutality and cruelty of warfareBy C. M MillsScars of Independence is a major contribution to our literature on the American Revolution. The book is written by Dr. Holger Hoock a German born professor of British history. The book shows us how the American Revolution has too often been drawn as a polite war between godlike American statesman and a wicked King George III and a voracious and cruel British Empire. There is truth to this belief but Hoock points out in anecdotal detail that the war also:1. Involved at least five contending forces: a. Patriots; b. Loyalists to the British Crown; c Slaves who fought on both sides of the conflict. d Native Americans who largely sided with the British and e. many Americans who were apathetic and wished the war would end so their homes; farms and bodies would be safe.2; All sides; as amply illustrated by the author; practiced atrocities. Among the worst were the British prison ships and the American decimation of Indian villages burned and sacked with the approval of Commanding General George Washington.3. Tar and Featherings; plunder and rape were engaged in by all sides.4. The war was the longest in terms of years ever fought on the American continent.5. The war escalated into a world war as Britain was opposed by the French; Spanish and Dutch who came to the aid of the American patriots.6. Prison conditions were brutal; disease; especially smallpox; was devastating and the suffering of hundreds of thousands of citizens and soldiers was profound. Hoock urges us to take a look at how the real war was fought; won and lost. It was a civil war pitting patriots against loyalists. Our American freedom was worn with blood and pain. the book is well illustrated with period maps and cartoons and lithographs from the period being covered. One of the best books on the American Revolution I have read. Excellent
