Books by Randall Collins

"What is charisma? And how does it generate influence and power? World-renowned sociologist Randall Collins explores these questions in a highly readable exploration of charisma and how charisma elevated Jesus, Cleopatra, Lawrence of Arabia, Hitler, Churchill, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, and Madame Mao Zedong"--

Explores the lives and ideas of the social thinkers who have shaped and continue to forge traditions in sociology. Focusing on the great names in the field, this book weaves biographical and conceptual details into a tapestry of the history of social thought of the 19th and 20th centuries.

An updated edition of Randall Collins's classic work, which represented the most powerful and comprehensive statement of conflict theory in its time.

In Max Weber: A Skeleton Key Randall Collins gives a concise overview of the work of one of sociology's greatest classic thinkers. The many strands of Weber's theorizing and the breadth and scope of his historical comparisons are here brought clearly into focus. This is an ideal text for students in sociology.

In this new interpretation of Weberian sociology, Professor Collins draws attention to important but neglected aspects of Weber's writings and shows how Weber's theory of the rise of capitalism, his theory of politics and his conflict theory of the family can inform an analysis of current world issues.