Fein, Melvyn L. 1941-

(Melvyn Leonard Fein)

PERSONAL: Born August 22, 1941, in Brooklyn, NY; son of Samuel J. and Florence D. Fein. Education: Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, B.A., 1963; City University of New York, Ph.D., 1983. Hobbies and other interests: Walking, reading.

ADDRESSES: Home— Canto, GA. Office— Department of Sociology, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA 20144-5591.

CAREER: Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Rochester, NY, rehabilitation counselor, 1978-90; Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, associate professor, 1991-96, professor of sociology, 1996—. University Center of Georgia, chair of interdepartmental group for sociology, 1996.

MEMBER: Sociological Practice Association (member of board of directors, 1992; editor, 1994-96), American Sociological Association, Southern Sociological Society, Georgia Sociological Association (member of board of directors, 1991-95; president, 2000).

WRITINGS

Role Change: A Resocialization Perspective, Praeger (New York, NY), 1990.

Analyzing Psychotherapy: A Social Role Interpretation, Praeger (New York, NY), 1992.

I.A.M.: A Common Sense Guide to Coping with Anger, Praeger (Westport, CT), 1993.

Hardball without an Umpire: The Sociology of Morality, Praeger (Westport, CT), 1997.

The Limits of Idealism: When Good Intentions Go Bad, Kluwer Academic (New York, NY), 1999.

Race and Morality: How Good Intentions Undermine Social Justice and Perpetuate Inequality, Kluwer Academic (New York, NY), 2001.

The Great Middle-Class Revolution: Our Long March toward a Professionalized Society, Kennesaw State University Press (Kennesaw, GA), 2005.

SIDELIGHTS: Melvyn L. Fein told CA:“I write because I want to share hard-won ideas. My social views have changed considerably over the years, but I have always believed in pursuing the truth. That is what I attempt to do in my books. What has surprised me most is how unreceptive many intellectuals are to fresh ideas. When I was young I assumed that insightful views, clearly expressed, would command assent. Now I know better. Too often intelligent people are committed to reading—and understanding—only that with which they already agree.”

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES

PERIODICALS

Choice, October, 1992, M.W. York, review of Analyzing Psychotherapy: A Social Role Interpretation, p. 385; March, 1998, review of Hardball without an Umpire: The Sociology of Morality, p. 1280; April, 2000, L. Braude, review of The Limits of Idealism: When Good Intentions Go Bad, p. 1551; April, 2002, K.M. McKinley, review of Race and Morality: How Good Intentions Undermine Social Justice and Perpetuate Inequality, p. 1504.

Reference & Research Book News, February, 1998, review of Hardball without an Umpire, p. 78; February, 2000, review of The Limits of Idealism, p. 91; August, 2001, review of Race and Morality, p. 54; November, 2006, review of The Great Middle-Class Revolution: Our Long March toward a Professionalized Society.