"Meticulously chosen selections from the 'founding fathers' (Marx, Weber, Durkheim) and their twentieth century successors (from Simmel and Mead to Blumer and Parsons). Introductory essays which are at once deep and lucid, broad and succinct. Calhoun and his collaborators have produced the best theory reader there is." Philip Gorski, University of Wisconsin-Madison"Craig Calhoun presents an elegant, concise, and thought-provoking introduction and overview of the development of sociological theory. It is an important complement to the rich selection of the classics found in this volume." Edward A. Tiryakian, Duke University