{"product_id":"max-weber-a-skeleton-key-the-masters-of-sociological-theory-9780803925519","title":"Max Weber: A Skeleton Key (The Masters of Sociological Theory)","description":"\u003cp\u003eA concise overview of sociologys greatest classic thinker. Weber emerges as a multisided intellectual personality  whose intellectual ambivalence is related to a neurotic breakdown in mid career and to the compromises he was forced to make among the conflicting politievanscal and intellectual currents of his time. Here we see what kinds of philosophical idealism Weber favored and what kinds he rejected  as well as his position on the \"battle of methods\" among the economists of his day. Webers famous \"Protestant Ethic\" thesis is put in proper perspective as an intellectual gambit in one particular period of his life  rather than as his central achievement. Webers overall view of social change is examined  drawing on several of his crucial but little-known works  on the sociology of ancient agrarian societies and on the long chain of organizational conditions that finally led to modern capitalism. Also treated are Webers major works on the sociology of religion and his contributions to systematic theory  especially social stratification. The many strands of Webers theorizing  and his tremendous scope of comparisons across world history  are here brought into a clear and manageable focus. \"Randall Collins is the leading sociological theorist of his generation. He has also done more than anyone else to use and develop Weberian sociology. Accordingly we expect much from Collins on Weber and Max Weber does not disappoint.\" --Whitney Pope  Indiana University \"A lively  efficient  reliable interpretation  captivating for the novice  provocative for the expert. . . . Typical Collins.\" --Alan Sica  University of Kansas \"A good introductory survey of Webers major writings. It is interesting reading and highly informative.\" --Contemporary Sociology \"A good capsule biography . . . very readable . . . honors clarity  style  and the value of popular understanding.\" --The Madison Independent Books in Review \"Ideal for an introductory course on Weber.\" --Ethics\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45652008239157,"sku":"ByrdShop_0803925514","price":123.6,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780803925519.jpg?v=1781848623","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/max-weber-a-skeleton-key-the-masters-of-sociological-theory-9780803925519","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}