Extraordinary Groups: An Examination of Unconventional Lifestyles

Rating:
Summary: extraordinary
Review: extraordinary groups offers the reader an extraordinary view into some of America's most avoidant and little known religions. Several of the groups portrayed by the authors are seldom accessible to the general population. For instance, rarely is there truly a detailed account of the Gypsy movement as striking as the one in this book. Also, for the religious historian the analysis of the Father Divine movement is both intriguing and fascinating, in addition, this is a historical movement that few Afro-Americans are even aware existed. Thanks Zellner for a great read!

Rating:
Summary: This is a well written, easily read basic sociology book.
Review: It covers eight diverse associational groups in America. The groups that Kephart/Zellner chose to include are The Old Order Amish; The Oneida Community; The Gypsies; The Church of Christ, Scientist; The Hasidim; The Father Divine Movement; The Mormons and The Jehovah Witnesses. In the introduction, they state one of the primary reasons for choosing these eight subcultures is because "they illustrate major sociological principles in concrete form." (page 1) Another reason is the diversity of each of the groups. They state some of the differences as being economic, rural versus urban, and proselytizing versus self-growth sects. The third reason they give is "simply that they are interesting." (page 3) Extraordinary Groups fulfills each of these reasons. In addition, when Kephart/Zellner discusses a new sociological term they give a definition and then an example from the current group being discussed. The reader can then relate the term to actual situations. This technique furthers the reader's understanding of sometimes-difficult sociological concepts. Kephart/Zellner sites and recommends further reading material for each chapter in a Selected Readings section. I enjoyed reading about each of these groups.