Mohammad H. Tamdgidi published the following book reviews in American Sociological Association’s Contemporary Sociology:
2009
(Invited/Refereed). Review of The Promise of Poststructuralist Sociology: Marginalized Peoples and the Problem of Knowledge. By Clayton W. Dumont Jr. New York: State University of New York Press, 2008. In Contemporary Sociology: A Journal of Reviews (a publication of the American Sociological Association), v. 38, n. 3(May), 270-272.
“… I think the dialectical negation, in a post-poststructuralist way perhaps, of poststructuralism’s one-sided negation of “truth” and “structure” in favor of a politically more relative treatment of them devoid of self-reflective blind spots will do more justice to Dumont’s otherwise important goal of engaging with what is precious in the poststructuralist tradition. The lucidity of his prose has served in my view to further expose the inconsistencies of poststructuralism; but it also serves to provocatively enrich and deepen his dialogue with his readers. Whether or not this review is “truthful” may perhaps not matter if we follow Dumont’s logic. What should matter are the fruitful conversations his well-written and insightful book will hopefully spark.”
2007
(Invited/Refereed). Review of Romance and Reason: Ontological and Social Sources of Alienation in the Writings of Max Weber. By Andrew M. Koch. New York: Lexington Books, A Division of Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2006. In Contemporary Sociology: A Journal of Reviews (a publication of the American Sociological Association), v. 36, n. 4(July), 386-387.
“… The greatest value of Koch’s book is that it genuinely opens, rather than closes, our self-questioning about the origins of our discipline. It presents a clear, well organized, and thought-provoking reading of Max Weber. Despite the subject’s complexity, its style renders it accessible to advanced undergraduates, graduates, and educated readers, as well as to academics in general.”
2006
(Invited/Refereed). Review of Magic and Witchcraft: Contemporary North America. Edited by Helen A. Berger. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2005. In Contemporary Sociology: A Journal of Reviews (a publication of the American Sociological Association), v. 35, n. 3 (May), 297-298.
“… Perhaps we need further swinging of the magical wand to bring these other relevant new traditions into the folds of insightful and nonordinary journeys made by all the authors in the volume. Helen A. Berger has done a wonderful job, including producing a succinct summary in the introduction, in swinging into reality this readable edited collection.”