Social Change in Australia: Readings in Sociology.

This article presents information on the book "Social Change in Australia: Readings in Sociology," edited by Donald E. Edgar. This collection makes little contribution to the editor's point of view. The volume as a whole provides a useful introduction to selected aspects of Australian society. Like all collections of readings, however, the book provides a mixed bag of diverse offerings ranging from sound empirical research reports to unsupported, discursive speculations. The editor argues that the distinguishing characteristic of this collection is that most of the papers are written by young graduates or teachers and report new research for the first time. One can appreciate the need for this type of text in Australian universities and colleges. Both Australia and New Zealand have suffered too long from a forced dependence on American and British edited works in order to illustrate the basic concepts and orientations of sociology.