The Mind and Society [Hardcover]

Vilfredo Pareto (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1983 | ISBN-10: 0404169902 | ISBN-13: 978-0404169909

The mind and society (1935)

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Italian (translation)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 2033 pages
• Publisher: Ams Pr Inc (October 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0404169902
• ISBN-13: 978-0404169909
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,143,855 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A masterpiece of sociological and political analysis, November 21, 2000

By 

Greg Nyquist (Eureka, California USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Mind and Society (Hardcover)

We can thank the academic world, the intellectuals, the "clercs," for keeping this book out of stock. Ever since the Second World War, Pareto has a been a persona non grata among the chattering classes and within the reality-cloistered groves of academe. Left-wing intellectuals cannot forgive him for writing "Mind and Society." Why are they so upset? Because Pareto dared to tell the truth about nature of society. Instead of concocting some sterile utopia or whining about the disadvantaged and the poor, Pareto set out to describe society as he found it. And he went about his business in a manner that was certain to offend the sensitive souls of intellectual's and left-wing idealogues everywhere. The study of society, Pareto makes clear in this treatise, is not about wishful thinking or curing the ills of humanity. No, it is about discovering uniformities in the social order, which means: discovering what makes society tick. Pareto traces the motive forces behind social change to human nature. Ruling elites tend to be one of two predominant types: they are either "lions" or "foxes." Lions try to rule through force; foxes try to rule through chicanery. The trouble with lions is that they tend to be rigid in their views. They dislike innovation and oppose progress. The trouble with foxes is that they shrink from the use of force and are susceptible to the excesses of humanitarianism. If a nation is to have a stable ruling elite, it needs a mixture of lions and foxes. Otherwise, you have social disequilibrium and crisis.

Pareto's scientific approach to sociology is refreshing in an age when everyone wants to interpret social and political issues in purely ideological terms. His prose is lively, engaging, and often very witty. His rampages against humanitarianism and ideology are hilarious. I would recommend using Amazon.com's search service to find a used copy of either the two volume or four volume versions of this work. It is well worth the trouble. Social science doesn't get any better, nor more readable, than this.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Found Vol 3 & 4, need Vol 1&2, November 2, 2009

By 

Nick Gilliland "Harristottle" (Layton UT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Mind and Society (Hardcover)

I purchased Mind and Society only to find it was volumes 3 & 4, which started on page one thousand something. I'd be willing to trade with someone who has Vol 1 & 2 and then return it for my Vol 3 & 4.