First published in 1989, this reissue concerns itself with the relevance of Max Weber's sociology for the understanding of modern times. The book outlines key tennets of Weber's sociology and points to the valuable legacy of Weber's thought in contemporary intellectual debate, particularly with regard to secularization and rationalization of global cultures, the crisis of Marxism, the rise of the New Right and the emergence of post-modernism. An authoritative and insightful study bringing to light not only the contemporary relevance of Weber's social theory, but also offering a broad perspective for the analysis of social questions.