15. Richard Swedberg, Sociology
The Max Weber Dictionary: Key Words and Central Concepts (Stanford University Press, 2005). Max Weber (1864–1920) founded the modern study of sociology and public administration. He is known for emphasizing cultural and political influences on economic development and individual behavior, his ideas about bureaucracy and about the Protestant ethic, his development of a methodology for social science, and his work on the sociology of religion. A German sociologist, economist, and political scientist, he is one of the most challenging theorists to understand. Swedberg sets out to help the general reader, student, and teacher gain a better grasp of Weber’s works and theories. The book consists of numerous entries in an approachable dictionary format.