The Methods and Materials of Demography

Reviews / Votes

"When it was originally published... The Methods and Materials of Demography... systematically delineated and illustrated the practice of applying demographic data to understand modern societal trends. Original author Jacob S. Siegel has now teamed with a new collaborator, David. A. Swanson, in updating the definitive demography bible. The Second Edition reflects changes in both technology and the global landscape in the 30 years that have passed, and now includes a chapter on health demography. Its sections outline the logical architecture of the science and its presentation and the tone remains didactic and simple, assuming little prior technical knowledge." AMERICAN DEMOGRAPHICS "Whenever one discusses demographic methodology, whether in this corner of the globe or with colleagues internationally, the tendency is to reach for the authoritative text and that is always Shryock and Siegel. It covers most methodological questions from those one confronts in undergraduate teaching through to much more advanced work. That is why the demographic community will welcome this revised version. I feel that the field of population studies owes a debt to the team that have taken the initiative of updating this classic." Ian Pool, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand "The second edition of "M&M," the red bible of demographic methods, is long overdue and will be valued as much as, if not more so than, the first edition. All demographers and demography students will have to have this book, which is current, timely, accessible, and chock full of all the demographic methods, data sources, and references needed to do demography." Dudley L. Poston, Jr., Texas A&M University "This book is an indispensable reference tool for professional and academic scholars in population studies, particularly for those who have interest in description, analysis and interpretation of major population trends, offering valuable insights to anyone involved in studying, teaching and working on demographic issues. The new edition has been updated and covers a wide range of topics, remaining a key text for students as well as professionals who need to manage demographic concepts and measures, phenomena and methods. It is essential reading for demographers as well as geographers, economists, sociologists, and health scientists." Filomena Racioppi, Dipartimento di Scienze Demografiche, Universita degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza"