Albert Schwartz

Professor of Sociology, 1965–1995

Albert Schwartz, Professor of Sociology, 1965–1995

Black Beauty (1877), by Anna Sewell (1820-1878). My first. I read it over several days in a neighborhood public library at age 8 or 9. I’ve enjoyed the experience of reading ever since.

The Magic Mountain (1924), by Thomas Mann (1875-1955). First book I ever read twice. After finishing it I began again the next day. It was like reading two different extraordinary books.

The Rules of Sociological Method (1895), by Emil Durkheim (1858-1917). Durkheim elegantly constructed a sociological perspective, which has informed my sociology since reading it in college.

Philosophy in a New Key: A Study in the Symbolism of Reason, Rite, and Art (1942), by Susanne Langer (1895-1985). Langer’s treatise examined the nature of what makes human experiences human. Her work formed the basis for the kind of social psychology I pursued. She looked at a vast range of human sensibilities-talk, art, music, emotions, ritual, and more. You can dip in almost any page and find nuggets of insight.

Book cover - Black Beauty
Black Beauty (1877) by Anna Sewell
Cover - The Magic Mountain
The Magic Mountain (1924) by Thomas Mann
Book cover - The Rules of Sociological Method
The Rules of Sociological Method (1895) by Emil Durkheim
Cover - Philosophy in a New Key
Philosophy in a New Key: A Study in the Symbolism of Reason, Rite, and Art (1942) by Susanne Langer