'One of the world's leading historians of German social science, Colin Loader has produced the first English language account, not only of Alfred Weber's ideas, but of their location in the social and cultural struggles of his times. Reconstructing Weber's pioneering effort to create a cultural sociology, Loader reveals an alternative genealogy and explains why it became a path not taken.' Jeffrey Alexander, Lillian Chavenson Saden Professor of Sociology, Yale University
'Few of us know anything substantial about Max Weber's younger brother, Alfred. Now, at last, we have a superb critical orientation to his ideas. With admirable sensitivity to historical context, Colin Loader introduces readers to Alfred Weber's life, location, intellectual network, and oeuvre, giving special attention to his innovative sociology of culture. A translation of one of Alfred Weber's key works on 'cultural sociology' caps this fascinating book. A major contribution to the history of ideas and 'discursive coalitions.'' Peter Baehr, professor of Social Theory and dean of Social Sciences, Lingnan University, Hong Kong
'A renowned specialist of Karl Mannheim, Colin Loader in his new book analyses Mannheim's mentor Alfred Weber, thus presenting the first study of Max Weber's brother in the English-speaking world. His emphasis is on the interrelation between Weber as a product of his crisis-stricken socio-cultural environment and his cultural sociology diagnosing this crisis. Loader's methodological approach is strictly European, combining Mannheim's sociology of knowledge with elements derived from Pierre Bourdieu and recent German scholars a new and innovative stimulus for biographical research on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.' Eberhard Demm, professor, DPhil., Dr. es-lettres et sciences humaines, Lyon III, France / Koszalin, Poland