Books by Eliot (University of California Freidson

"Must be judged as a landmark in medical sociology."--Norman Denzin, "Journal of Health and Social Behavior" ""Profession of Medicine" is a challenging monograph; the ideas presented are stimulating and thought provoking. . . . Given the expanding domain of what illness is and the contentions of physicians about their rights as professionals, Freidson wonders aloud whether expertise is becoming a mask for privilege and power. . . . "Profession of Medicine" is a landmark in the sociological analysis of the professions in modern society."--Ron Miller, "Sociological Quarterly" "This is the first book that I know of to go to the root of the matter by laying open to view the fundamental nature of the professional claim, and the structure of professional institutions."--Everett C. Hughes, "Science"

Eliot Freidson has written the first systematic account of professionalism as a method of organizing work. In ideal--typical professionalism, specialized workers control their own work, while in the free market consumers are in command, and in bureaucracy managers dominate.

This book is an original interpretation of the professions and the role of the professional in Western industrial societies today.