'Stehr's penetration of theoretical and empirical claims from various quarters is thorough. He succeeds very well in tracing both the conceptual development within the social sciences and current compilations of data.'
Reiner Grundmann, Aston Business School, Aston University
'Stehr's book is an engaging and carefully supported myth and disbelief-demolishing exercise, based on important new formulations of the challenges of society today. It is both analytically and empirically sound and compelling ... This very important piece of scholarly work connects economic changes with work, consumption, symbolism and meanings, and growth/environment ... [It] looks with care and passionate but unbiased scholarship at possibilities for action and, at the same time, how those possibilities for action are being limited.'
Susan McDaniel, Department of Sociology, University of Alberta

Contents

• Introduction: The Social Sciences, the Economy, and Politics
• Economic Activities and Social Action
• Knowledge as a Productive Factor
• Knowledge Societies
• The Modern Economy
• The Future of Work?
• The Changing Economic Structure of Society
• Globalization, Information, and Knowledge
• Economy and Ecology
• Prospects: The Fragility of the Future