<p>“Smith’s book is a marvelous theoretical and scholarly accomplishment. It is far and away the most insightful and important work ever written not only about Durkheim but, most importantly, the tradition he created.”<br /><b>Jeffrey C. Alexander, Yale University</b></p> <p><b><br /></b>“This book is like the sun coming up, dispelling the myths that sociology has never made any important discoveries or sharpened its knowledge across the generations. Philip Smith’s lucid and fair-minded account tells the story from Durkheim’s team to the theoretical trajectories of today, while touching on much of the intellectual action for over a century.”<br /><b>Randall Collins, University of Pennsylvania</b></p> <p>“A masterpiece of sociological theory – well written and based on an impressive breadth of knowledge, a strong capacity for synthesis, and a great open-mindedness.”<br /><b>Marcel Fournier, University of Montreal</b></p> <p>"This book sensitizes us to the richness of Durkheim’s heritage, the inspirations that have been drawn from it and those that are still waiting to become fruitful. It offers a useful overview of the twists and turns of the Durkheim reception – with a particular focus on American cultural sociology.”<br /><b>Hans Joas, Humboldt University, Berlin, and University of Chicago</b></p>