Folkways
A Study of the Sociological Importance of Usages, Manners, Customs, Mores, and Morals
Folkways, published in 1907, is the major work of the Yale sociologist William Graham Sumner. Its argument is that human conduct is shaped less by reason or legislation than by folkways, the habits a group develops to meet its needs, which harden into mores when they acquire a sense of right and wrong. Sumner coined the word ethnocentrism here and introduced the distinction between in-groups and out-groups. He ranges over an enormous mass of evidence from ancient and modern societies on labor, wealth, slavery, marriage, cannibalism, infanticide, sport, drama, education, and the treatment of strangers, always to show how customs arise, persist, and change. The book is skeptical, blunt, and encyclopedic. It is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, with the first chapter free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about Folkways
Folkways by William Graham Sumner can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read Folkways online?
Yes. Folkways opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is Folkways free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Folkways is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is Folkways in the public domain?
Yes. Folkways by William Graham Sumner is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read Folkways?
About 18 h 43 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is Folkways?
Folkways by William Graham Sumner is filed under "History" in the Vinteuil library.
