Description: "Robert K. Merton (1910-2003) was one of the most influential sociologists of the twentieth century, producing clear theories and innovative research that continue to shape multiple disciplines. Merton's reach can be felt in the study of social structure, social psychology, deviance, professions, organizations, culture, and science. Yet for all his fame, Merton is only partially understood. He is treated by scholars as a functional analyst, when in truth his contributions transcend paradigm.
Review Quotes: American sociology over the past century probably owes more to Robert K. Merton than to any other scholar. He taught whole generations of us how to see the world sociologically, think about it sociologically, and study it sociologically. The essays that make up this book, opening with the masterful introduction by its editor, Craig Calhoun, approach Merton from a number of different vantage points, and together they provide a striking intellectual portrait of this very special person.--Kai Erickson, Yale University