Max Weber : An Intellectual Portrait

Contents: 1. Career and Personal Orientation. 2. Weber s Early Studies and the Definition of His Intellectual Perspective.3. Aspects of Economic Rationality in the West. 4. Introduction. 5. Society and Religion in China. 6. Society and Religion in India. 7. Society and Religion in Ancient Palestine. 8. Max Weber s Sociology of Religion.9. Basic Concepts of Political Sociology. 10. Charismatic Leadership and Domination. 11. Traditional Domination.12. Legal Domination: The Emergence of Legal Rationality. 13. Legal Domination (continued): The Modern State and the Struggle for Power. 14. A Contemporary Perspective. 15. Max Weber s Image of Society. Reinhard Bendix s work is the most complete introduction to Weber s thinking available in English Bendix devotes most of his book to an exposition of Weber s substantive writings, omitting only a few studies. Bendix is as fair and accurate in his exposition of Weber s work as one can ever expect, and he leads us with a keen sense for the essentials through Weber s voluminous scholarship. Political Science Quarterly Where others have restricted themselves to brief interpretations or analyses of specific aspects of Weber s work, Bendix has attempted the full scale study that has long been needed. As such, it unquestionably fulfills the minimum requirements. It is admirably clear, well organized, inclusive, and based on long and conscientious research. For the student who wants an introductory guide to Weber, it will be a godsend, providing as it does the overall structure that the theoretician himself did not live to complete. Bendix s book proves not to be an intellectual portrait at all: its subtitle is a misnomer. It is rather an expert and extremely useful key to his work. A really exciting and original book on Weber. American Historical Review Bendix has set out an admirably straightforward exposition of the whole body of Weber s scholarly work.…