WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., June 28, 2019 — West Liberty University’s Dr. Darrick Brake has published a sociology monograph recently on social philosopher Josiah Royce (1855 – 1916) entitled, “Conversations on Irving Street.”
The slim book is garnering attention for the young professor who teaches both criminal justice and sociology at WLU in the College of Liberal Arts.
The North Central Sociological Association has posted comments about it on Facebook and Central Michigan University Emeritus Professor of Sociology Larry Reynolds wrote the forward stating: “in my opinion, Brake has gone a long way toward making his case that Royce’s ideas should engage our attention. This short book, Brake’s first, merits a read.”
It is available on Amazon and through the publisher, Vernon Press, Wilmington, Del. The title reference to Irving Street is a nod to the street on which Royce lived in Cambridge, Mass. where he was a neighbor to colleague and philosopher William James.
“My monograph fills in gaps about the history and knowledge of symbolic interactionist theory. There’s a big gap of 40 years between American pragmatic philosophy and the social behaviorism of George Herbert Mead. No one really knows what happened in those years. Royce and his work actually fills in those gap years and my book shows how and why I assert that theory,” said Brake.
Royce graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and was one of the first PhDs in the country, according to Brake. He also studied in Germany and taught English for four years at the University of California before beginning his teaching career at Harvard University, where he remained for the rest of his career.
This book offers a unique insight into an American philosopher whose contribution to the development and origins of symbolic interactionism has been largely unnoticed.
Originally from Springfield, Ohio, Dr. Brake earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from Adrian College, a master’s degree in sociology from Central Michigan University, and a doctoral degree from Western Michigan University in Sociology with an emphasis on social psychology, social theory, and racial and ethnic relations in the U.S.
Previously, Brake taught at Concord University and Ball State University. His research focuses on studying human trafficking crimes, terrorism and finance policy, and the social psychology of deviant behavior.
He now resides in West Liberty, W.Va.
The newly published book also features English major and recent WLU graduate Cory Reiner as the academic editor.
“I worked on this book since 2006. It started out as a monstrous work and I edited it several times, plus went through several publishers and much peer review. I am pleased that Cory acted as academic editor and he did a fine job,” added Brake.
West Liberty University is a forward-looking, four-year public university steeped in a rich heritage as West Virginia’s oldest institution. Today it offers more than 70 undergraduate majors, plus a growing number of graduate programs, both online and on campus.
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