This book endeavours to bring the sociology of Elias to a new and wider audience through offering accessible explanations of some of his key ideas.

Offering a fascinating survey of Elias's life and writings, Dennis Smith traces the growth of his reputation. He is the first author to confront Elias's work wi

This book contains Elias's broadest statement of the fundamentals of sociology, in important respects very different from the discipline as it is institutionali

This book provides a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the key aspects of Norbert Elias's work.

What is Sociology? presents in concise and provocative form the major ideas of a seminal thinker whose work--spanning more than four decades--is only now gainin