The Protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism

Weber's classic work (in sociology, economics, religious studies, history of ideas) is more often cited than read and this new translation is worthwhile if for no other reason than serving to rectify that neglect. Kalberg (Boston Univ. and author of Max Weber's Comparative-Historical Sociology, CH, Jul'94) has produced an improved translation, the first since Talcott Parson's oft-criticized version of 1930. (In one notable example, Parson's "iron cage" is more accurately, if less elegantly, translated as "steel-hard casing.") Kalberg renders Weber's work more accessible by identifying persons named in the text and translating foreign phrases. Other helpful aids include a glossary and a subject guide to Weber's extensive footnotes. The introduction historically contextualizes Weber's work in prior debates over the origins of capitalism and summarizes key ideas. Though not new translations, the inclusion of Weber's essay Protestant Sects and the Spirit of Capitalism, with its American focus, and his Prefatory Remarks to Essays in the Sociology of Religion, with its more global viewpoint, add breadth to the primary text. Interest in Weber continues unabated, and this particular work retains relevance to contemporary debates concerning capitalism, modernity, and secularization. Highly recommended; all readership groups and levels. J. Gresham Fontbonne College