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corvuscorax's review against another edition
challenging
informative
3.75
Quite a fascinating read, especially for its attempt to link religion and economics from a totally different standpoint than materialists. There are many loose ends (which are even signalled in the notes that alluded to further chapters), but the overview that he gives is quite compelling. I think, though, that the strong academic opposition to this book stems from the fact that he tried to spread his wings in too many directions at once, not having quite a solid foundation in all of them. I suspect someone with a better theological background would have an easier time spotting these inconsistencies.
I appreciated his attempt to keep a neutral tone, but the section toward the very end was a lot easier to empathize with than his other points. This quote will certainly stick for a bit.
I appreciated his attempt to keep a neutral tone, but the section toward the very end was a lot easier to empathize with than his other points. This quote will certainly stick for a bit.
The Puritans wanted to be men of calling - we, on the other hand, must be. For when asceticism moved out of the monastic cells and into working life, and began to dominate innerworldly morality, it helped to build that mighty economic cosmos of the modern economic order (which is bound to the technical and economical conditions of mechanical and machine production). Today this mighty cosmos determines, with overwhelming coercion, the style of life not only of those directly involved in business but of every individual who is born into this mechanism, and may well continue to do so until the day that the last ton of fossil fuel has been consumed.
vulturetime's review against another edition
Pro-tip: do not try to read this all in one sitting because you procrastinated on reading it and now you basically have to read it in one day.
manuclearbomb's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Some worthwhile ideas to think about
janthonytucson's review against another edition
5.0
'No one knows who will live in this iron cage in the future, or whether at the end of this tremendous development entirely new prophets will arise...For the last stage of this cultural development, it might well be truly said: "Specialist without spirit, sensualist without heart; this nullity imagines that it has attained a level of civilization never before achieved."' - Max Weber 1904-05
Reflecting upon our current state of things in the Spring of 2023, 'Specialist without spirit, sensualist without heart' -ChatGPT can you please write this phrase in the style of William Butler Yeats, with a sardonic twist and a recipe for a cocktail for the end of the Subject.
Reflecting upon our current state of things in the Spring of 2023, 'Specialist without spirit, sensualist without heart' -ChatGPT can you please write this phrase in the style of William Butler Yeats, with a sardonic twist and a recipe for a cocktail for the end of the Subject.