MAX WEBER: An Intellectual Portrait

“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.” —American Anthropologist