Berger and Zelditch (both sociology, Stanford U.) introduce undergraduate and graduate students to the diversity of some of the most significant theories in contemporary sociology. Most of the 13 chapters were originally papers commissioned for a conference on sociological theory sponsored by the Theory Section of the American Sociological Association in 2000. Each of the chapters analyzes the growth of a particular program of theoretical research over time, and was written by either the creator(s) of the program's original theoretical formulation or a leading theorist working in the program. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)