The Sociological Imagination

The Sociological Imagination, written by C. Wright Mills, is an insightful critique of the research taking place in sociology. Mills covers every aspect of sociology including the works of the renowned sociologist Talcott Parsons as well as his own works. It takes an initial stab at defining what the sociological imagination is. Mills states that the sociological imagination is a quality of mind that allows one to understand "history and biography and the relations between the two within society" (p 6). It allows one to switch from one perspective to another allowing for a comprehensive view of the "socio-cultural system".

The sociological imagination distinguishes between two very distinct ends of reality, the "private troubles", and the "public issues". To understand social reality, private troubles must be examined in the context of the larger issue. For example, a child who doing poor school work may be suffering from a private trouble but that issue is part of a larger picture. Is his trouble coming