The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism

THE PROTESTANT ETHIC AND THE SPIRIT OF CAPITALISM is considered a founding text in economic capitalism, economic sociology and sociology in general.

In the book, Weber wrote that capitalism in Europe evolved when the Protestant ethic influenced large numbers of people to engage in work in the secular world, developing their own enterprises and engaging in trade and the accumulation of wealth for investment. In other words, the Protestant work ethic was a force behind a mass action that influenced the development of capitalism.

This book is not a detailed study of Protestantism but rather an introduction into Weber's studies of interaction between moral ideas and economics. He argues convincingly about the American ethics and ideas that have so positively influenced the development of capitalistic financial prosperity, and thereby, both the personal and common good.

Translated by leading sociologist Talcott Parsons, this was the first and still remains the seminal translation of Weber's main work.

"In a style at once elegant and rigorous, Stephen Kalberg presents us with a superb translation of Max Weber′s classic study of religion and economics that to a large extent has defined the nature of the historical sociology of capitalism... [This] work of authoritative and authentic scholarship ... will establish the bench mark for Weber translations in the social sciences." Bryan S. Turner, University of Cambridge

"I am glad to see this immensely important work, first published a century ago, finally made available to the English reading public in an accessible version ... Kalberg succeeds in making the text a pleasure to read." Egon Bittner, Brandeis University

"Weber′s classic text has now at last been given the treatment it deserves in English, with Stephen Kalberg′s meticulous translation and superb editorial presentation." William Outhwaite, University of Sussex

"This new translation offers a readable, trenchant alternative to the ideologies of modernity and to the postmodernist philosophies central to much social theory, ethics and theology today. Those interested in the future will attend to this fresh recovery of the past." Max L. Stackhouse, Princeton Theological Seminary

"Stephen Kalberg has produced a book that teachers and students will find invaluable. What an excellent idea, to combine a new translation of Max Weber′s The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism with other closely related writings of Weber′s, including a detailed and accessible introduction and supporting background information on Weber the man, on the book, and on its place in contemporary social science. Kalberg′s comprehensive introduction manages to be informative and scholarly while remaining a clear and intelligible guide to the book. The introduction offers an accurate and refined statement of Weber′s important and influential (if often misunderstood) thesis, placing it in the context of its era and to Weber′s general idea of sociology. This new version of The Protestant Ethic should greatly improve upon its predecessor and clear up misunderstandings of Weber′s meaning which the earlier translation may have engendered." Wes Sharrock, University of Manchester

"This new translation of Weber′s The Protestant Ethic, one of the most important social science works of the twentieth century, is a welcome and worthwhile enterprise. It carefully presents the numerous and important nuances of Weber′s text, giving a clear idea of the place of this text in the intellectual framework of his time. Professor Kalberg′s introduction provides a very interesting commentary on this text as well as the place of Weber′s work in the history of sociology and its relevance to the central problems of contemporary sociology theory. [The book] is a distinct contribution – and a tool for students of sociological theory and its history." S.N. Eisenstadt, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

"A couple of years ago I had to re–read Plato′s Republic. I was amazed by the striking resemblance between the social problems addressed by Plato and the problems of contemporary societies. I had similar experience after reading the new translation of The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism by Stephen Kalberg, an internationally acclaimed Weberian scholar. Although capitalism and the discursive formation that has laid the foundation for its existence has changed very much, reading this classical work of Weber reminds one the nature and operations of capitalism that we take for granted...[Kalberg] has successfully overcome the daunting task of balancing between keeping Weber′s message intact while at the same time providing a reader friendly translation." AlemSeghed Kebede, California State University, Bakersfield

"Essentially, Kalberg achieves his goal of providing an indispensable, up–to–date resource for the scholar, teacher, student while, at the same time presenting the general, albeit serious reader with an engaging version of this most outstanding of Weber′s works. Auto/Biography Journal