Customer Reviews

Religion and the Rise of Capitalism

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This book is a magisterial critical evaluation of Max Weber's thesis 'The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism'.
Tawney argues rightly that there is an interaction between religion and the social/economical environment because 'it seems a little artificial to talk as though capitalist enterprise could not appear till religious changes had produced a capitalist spirit. It would equally be true, and equally one-sided, to say that the religious changes were purely the result of economic movements.' (p.312)
As an example, the Christian Church itself had changed mightily in the Renaissance. It persecuted the Spiritual Franciscans who followed St Francis' rule of evangelical poverty. It was the richest company in the Western world (see W. Manchester: 'A world lit only by fire').
Tawney remarks rightly that what Calvin did for the bourgeoisie of the sixteenth century, Marx did for the proletariat of the nineteenth. Calvin's success was firmly prepared by Puritan moralists, who stressed thrift, work as an end in itself, efficiency and rational calculation. They paved the way for a shrewd commercial and powerful midldle class, which adopted the Calvinist religion and its ethic as a natural ally.
This very rich book shows the real impact of Calvinism on the whole society. One example: wages. Calvinism considered 'that high wages are not a blessing, but a misfortune, since they merely conduce to weekly debauches.' (p. 267)
This is a brilliantly written, colourful, metaphorical and yet scientific work. It should be an example for many historians, of how 'essential historical evolutions' can be presented to the public in a comprehensive and attractive language.
This is an essential read for the understanding of out modern society.

There are already several good reviews to this book, so I will only suggest reading the following books in addition to Tawney's work: 1) "The passions and the interests" by Albert Hirschman; 2) "The mind and the market: capitalism in Western thought" by Jerry Muller; 3) "The Spirit of Capitalism: Nationalism and Economic Growth" by Liah Greenfeld; 4) 4.1. and 4.2: "The world economy. A millennial perspective" (2001) plus "The world economy: Historical Statistics" (2003) by Angus Maddison; 5) "The Churching Of America, 1776-2005: Winners And Losers In Our Religious Economy" by Roger Finke and Rodney Stark ; and 6) "Power and Plenty: Trade, War, and the World Economy in the Second Millennium" by Ronald Findlay and Kevin H. O'Rourke.

This book was a recommended study when I did History II, c. 1966! It has a peculiar relevance and interest now, given trends in world finance. It's a difficult book, wordy, angled, prolix and using archaic and academic English of its time(1922). The long process of leaving behind guilt and even criminality in matters of Usury, to the ravenous, predatory and self-centred practices of today's Capitalism, tend to make one reflect and even regrtet what was lost in transit. This is a vital book on a vital subject area. I find myself going back to settle some small doubt, to resolve a point or to shape a view. Excellent old academic writing indeed.

The price of this book from Transaction publishers suggests a high quality paperback, but in fact it's a very poor quality reproduction; the pages look like they were printed by an ink-jet printer when it's running out of ink, with spatters and white spots. It's readable, but still a big rip-off at the price.

the book concerns about the two main point of the last 5 centuries: religion and capitalism. they are together and separate.

read it