The Max Weber Dictionary: Key Words and Central Concepts (Stanford Social Sciences) [Paperback]

Richard Swedberg (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0804750955 | ISBN-13: 978-0804750950 | Publication Date: January 24, 2005 | Edition: 1

Max Weber is one of the world’s most important social scientists, and one of the most notoriously difficult to understand. This dictionary will aid the reader in understanding Weber’s work. Every entry contains a basic definition, examples of and references to the word in Weber’s writing, and references to important secondary literature.

More than an elementary dictionary, however, this work makes a contribution to the general culture and legacy of Weber’s work. The dictionary also contains extended entries for broader concepts and topics throughout Weber’s work, including law, politics, and religion. Every entry in the dictionary delves into Weber scholarship and acts as a point of departure in discussion and research. As such, this book will be an invaluable resource to general readers, students, and scholars alike.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“What an impressive undertaking! This will be an important resource to anyone interested in Max Weber's work for years to come.”—Mustafa Emirbayer, University of Wisconsin, Madison

“The Weber dictionary will be an indispensable source of reference for social scientists. It will contribute to a much better grasp of Weber's extensive writings.”—Sam Whimster, editor of the Journal for Max Weber Studies

From the Inside Flap

Max Weber is one of the world’s most important social scientists, and one of the most notoriously difficult to understand. This dictionary will aid the reader in understanding Weber’s work. Every entry contains a basic definition, examples of and references to the word in Weber’s writing, and references to important secondary literature.
More than an elementary dictionary, however, this work makes a contribution to the general culture and legacy of Weber’s work. The dictionary also contains extended entries for broader concepts and topics throughout Weber’s work, including law, politics, and religion. Every entry in the dictionary delves into Weber scholarship and acts as a point of departure in discussion and research. As such, this book will be an invaluable resource to general readers, students, and scholars alike.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: Stanford University Press; 1 edition (January 24, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804750955
• ISBN-13: 978-0804750950
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,372,761 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #39 in Books > Education & Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > Foreign Language > Swedish

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review of Richard Swedberg's Weber Dictionary, March 30, 2005

By 

G A - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Max Weber Dictionary: Key Words and Central Concepts (Stanford Social Sciences) (Paperback)

This valuable dictionary is of great use both for the Weber specialist as well as for the novice in sociology who wishes to acquaint herself with some fundamental (Weberian) sociological concepts. Each entry is written in a clair and pedagogical style (which is what one expects from a good dictionary), explaining in a concise and precise manner many of Weber's ideas, however, without loosing the richness and complexity that characterize them. For the expert reader, or for anyone interested in learning more about a specific Weberian concept, a number of important secondary sources is proposed. Also, each entry makes clear where one can read more about a specific idea in Weber's own works. Richard Swedberg, one of today's most distinguished experts in Max Weber, should be given praise for undertaking the burdensome but extremely important scholarly task of presenting Weber's key concepts and ideas in a coherent manner. This book is a must for any student of sociology.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Worthy Addition to the Literature on Max Weber's Writings, January 18, 2006

By 

Edward P. Matos "edmatos52" (Laredo, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Max Weber Dictionary: Key Words and Central Concepts (Stanford Social Sciences) (Hardcover)

"The Max Weber Dictionary: Key Words and Central Concepts" is a wonderful accomplishment - one that was much overdue. I wish it had been available to me during my time studying Weber's sociological writings.

Max Weber's writings are notoriously complex in their reading, but Swedberg and Agevall have taken up the challenge and produced a very worthy book that will help the beginner and graduate level sociology student to better understand Weber's work - perhaps even scholars in the field will benefit from this reservoir of knowledge.

"Economy and Society" is one of Max Weber's greatest works of social science - it too also poses the threat of understandability and interpretation. "The Max Weber Dictionary" helps to decipher many, if not all, of the important language (words) and concepts utilized by Weber - in this scholarly reference tool. However, "The Max Weber Dictionary" covers all of the concepts in Weber's writings.

"The Max Weber Dictionary: Key Words and Central Concepts" is a worthy addition to the literature on Max Weber's writings and to sociology in general.