I have used this book since the first edition came out. The key strength of that edition and each edition that followed has been the conceptual framework of community capitals that helps students understand the connectivity between social, cultural, economic, and political issues and how they relate to the built and natural environments. This framework allows students to comprehend the ... Read morecomplexity of community and to identify strengths and weaknesses in their own communities that can be used in promoting purposeful and positive change.
Conner Bailey, Auburn University Rural Communities is the most complete textbook that I know of for the social science approach to understanding communities. The Floras are successful in combining basic concepts and theories of community with practical examples that students and professionals can use for their work and in their own communities. The book challenges students to take a critical look at communities, including underlying processes and structures that exist in all communities.
Richard Maurer, University of Kentucky Rural Communities: Legacy and Change is a well-organized, highly readable text introducing students to rural sociology. The use of personal vignettes to illustrate key concepts and the theoretical Community Capitals Framework to facilitate discussion of critical components of rural communities help students come to understand the dynamics of stability and change in those communities.
Liza Kuecker, Western New Mexico University ...a cogent overview of the theory, issues, and applications that drive current-day rural studies. The book is very readable, and provides adequate, thorough coverage. If [undergraduate students] engage the material they will find a wealth of stories and case studies that illustrate and highlight the issues facing rural communities today.
Ben Amsden, Plymouth State University The Floras have provided creative and useful sociological analysis of rural populations and rural living which is deeply and convincingly argued.
Kathryn Hovey, New Mexico State University Praise for the Previous Editions: This text contributes to pedagogical effectiveness, student learning and empowered community practice. The text is well written, clearly organized, engaging, insightful and readable for a wide range of audiences.
Teaching Sociology Show Less