{"product_id":"2026200013236-secondhand-alternative-realities-a-study-of-communes-and-their-members","title":"Alternative Realities: A Study Of Communes And Their Members","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition remarks:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBook: Good\u003cbr\u003eJacket: Very good\u003cbr\u003ePages: Good\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat compels a person to abandon the rhythms of conventional society and commit to life within a commune? Andrew Rigby's Alternative Realities: A Study of Communes and Their Members presents a rigorous and absorbing sociological investigation into intentional communities, chronicling the motivations, structures, and daily realities of those who choose collective living as a radical alternative to mainstream existence. Published as part of the prestigious International Library of Sociology, the work draws on direct fieldwork and interviews to detail the diverse typologies of communes — from religious and spiritual communities to anarchist and political collectives — offering a comprehensive taxonomy that remains a landmark in the field.\n\nRigby argues that the commune movement is far more than a countercultural footnote; it is a profound social phenomenon that illuminates the tensions between individual freedom and collective responsibility, between utopian aspiration and practical necessity. His prose is precise and analytical, yet deeply humanistic, ensuring that the voices and experiences of commune members resonate throughout the academic framework. Rooted in the sociological tradition founded by Karl Mannheim, the study uncovers the ideological fault lines and social dynamics that ultimately determine whether a community thrives or fractures — a question as urgent and unresolved today as when the book was first written.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Secondhand Stock","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49216213975259,"sku":"2026200013236-SECONDHAND","price":15.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/d062816e-6040-43fa-ae2d-c3ada0e0235d.png?v=1788405484","url":"https:\/\/bookgrocer.com\/products\/2026200013236-secondhand-alternative-realities-a-study-of-communes-and-their-members","provider":"Book Grocer","version":"1.0","type":"link"}