Why read The Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism?

Book cover of The Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism

Book description

With a new afterword by the author, this classic analysis of Western liberal capitalist society contends that capitalism,and the culture it creates,harbors the seeds of its own downfall by creating a need among successful people for personal gratification,a need that corrodes the work ethic that led to their success in…

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American history

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Benjamin M. Friedman

Author

Bell, one of the greatest sociologists of the twentieth century, argues that having the right culture is essential for capitalism (or any other economic or political system) to flourish – and I certainly agree. But he goes further: he worries that over time the economic gains that capitalism delivers end up undermining the cultural conditions that allow capitalism to flourish in the first place. His book is about the role of culture more broadly, not religion in particular, but religion certainly fits within the overall argument.

From Benjamin's list on The best books on economics, religion, and society.