Focusing on the meaning of objects associated with ‘home’ and with family-related social processes such as parenting, divorcing, and aging, Janning takes a sociological glimpse at several seemingly trivial but terribly relevant family topics. Her subjects are far ranging, including owners’ suites; living spaces with great rooms, toys, and photo albums; dining rooms, with evidence of social class distinctions and dishes that link individuals to past and future families; spaces symbolizing transitions to adulthood or new family groupings; home offices with work bags and calendars; and bathrooms. Rather than an overarching theoretical focus, Janning introduces three general themes early in chapter 1 and then reintroduces them at the end of each section to tie together the many short glimpses into this wide range of family-related topics. The themes are the boundaries between public and private life, the connection between home life and larger social issues, and the symbolic and channeling functions of homes….

Summing Up: Recommended. All public and academic levels/libraries.

Choice Reviews

Have you ever considered why your house has a dining room? Or have you thought about which rooms in your house are public (such as the living room) or private (like the bedroom)? Sociologist Janning looks at spaces and items in modern American homes to understand the boundaries between public and private lives for families, examine how homes illustrate broader social issues, and discuss how homes shape lives. For each section of her analysis, she chooses two objects to illustrate larger implications and relationships. For example, LEGO bricks allow Janning to explore modern childhood and approaches to parenting. LEGOs demonstrate what 'good parenting' looks like for a specific socioeconomic class: toys that are educational and enjoyed safely indoors. Her writing is conversational and humorous as she explains various research projects and sociological concepts. Whether familiar with sociological methods or not, readers will be fascinated by Janning’s ideas and the connections she draws between household items and family life.

Booklist

The Stuff of Family Life, by Michelle Janning, is a fascinating sociological exploration of what material goods say about people and society.... The book is intelligent. It is also a relatable and entertaining read.... The Stuff of Family Life is an illuminating, well-researched and remarkable book. The insights it offers afford an opportunity to examine the personal effects every family surrounds themselves with and to perhaps find insight into who they are as individuals, as families, and as members of society.

Foreword Reviews

Janning raises the discussion to a level higher than Snoop Dogg. . . . Janning made me think differently about the stuff in our homes, our connection to it, its meaning, and what it says about us.

Pasadena Star-News

The Stuff of Family Life: How Our Homes Reflect Our Lives speaks to the everyday reader through easy-to-follow text and language.... Janning truly combines education and entertainment in a nonfiction book accessible to casual readers through dedicated sociology students. I find her use of amusing anecdotes especially engaging. I found myself chuckling as I read some of the stories. Overall I am quite impressed with the book, and definitely recommend checking out a copy to anyone interested in the sociology of the modern American family. If you are interested in learning more about the dynamics of the family within modern American culture, I recommend checking out The Stuff of Family Life: How Our Homes Reflect Our Lives by Michelle Janning.... I personally enjoyed the many amusing anecdotes included throughout the book. If you have ever wondered what the placement of your TV in your home or the contents about your underwear drawer say about your family dynamics, pick up a copy of The Stuff of Family Life today to learn more about the fascinating topic!

The Parenting Patch: Where Parents Grow

[The Stuff of Family Life] is well-stocked with fun examples and intriguing analyses of how our homes and the stuff within them reveal more than we might have imagined. It’s a fascinating class in social issues, with Janning as a likable teacher.

Notre Dame Magazine