The Crisis of Our Age

by Pitirim A. Sorokin

This is an analysis of the nature, causes and consequences of the crisis of modern society. Professor Sorokin asserts that the whole of modern culture is undergoing a period of transition brought on by the struggle between the forces of the largely outworn materialistic order and the emerging, creative forces of a new idealistic order. On the outcome of this struggle, the author contends, rests the progress and survival of mankind.

Genres: Philosophy, History, Sociology, Nonfiction, Politics, Anthropology, Society

Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

The first edition of his 1942 book Man and Society in Calamity lists him as "Doctor of Sociology; Chairman of Department of Sociology, Harvard University; Former President of international Institute of Sociology".

Reviews

[Marcio Atz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This must have been one of the most impressive books I remember to have read recently. The overview on western culture, from about 600 BC to the mid XX century is truly impressive. The understanding on arts, science, economics through the ages and the moment we are presently living through is really interesting. Sorokin's intelectual legacy is definitely a giant's work.

[Joe]

Comment:

If you have ever heard anyone refer to modern society as 'sensate', and wondered what that meant then this is the book for you. It is, however, not Sorokin's definitive position. For that you need to find his four volume "Social and Cultural Dynamics". But this book ("The Crisis of our Age") should do for the merely inquisitive, - like myself. Sorokin says of the 'Crisis' book that it is based on a modified form of Lectures given in 1941. The lectures were based on the four volume work. While our author is usually thought of as a sociologist, the detailed treatment of the history of culture displayed in the four volume magnum opus has made some commentators place Sorokin in the civilizational school of historiography that begins with Spengler and Toynbee. For our author, there are three types of cultures: spiritual, materialistic, and a mixture of the two. Sorokin believes that our materialist culture ("sensate") is beginning to die. I think that now, seventy or so years later, many more agree than when he gave these lectures in 1941.

[Moses Yuriyvich Mikheyev · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eviscerating examination of modern American culture. A must read.

[Nwaf · Rating 2 out of 5]

كتاب ذو أهمية تاريخية في علم الاجتماع، لكن قيمته الفكرية محدودة للغاية فهو لا يقدم سوى القليل من التوجيه لمشكلات العصر الحالي .

[Yousef Nabil · Rating 5 out of 5]

على مدار تطور التاريخ الإنساني حدثت ثورات كثيرة هدفت إلى إقامة الجنة على الأرض، ولا تزال هذه الثورات تحدث حتى الآن بالرغم من أن واحدة منها لم تنجح في تحقيق هدفها. تشهد كل صفحة من صفحات التاريخ الإنساني على أن من يطلقون العنان لاندلاع الحروب على قناعة صلبة بأنهم يستطيعون أن يضعوا نهاية للحروب، ويقضوا على الاستبداد، ويجعلوا العالم آمنًا لتنمية الديمقراطية، ويتغلبوا على الظلم، ويحدوا من الفقر، إلخ. نحن نرى أن الهومو سابينس لا يزال يؤمن حتى الآن بهذه الفكرة الجنونية. تاريخ التقدم الإنساني من هذا المنظور هو في واقع الأمر تاريخ حماقة يتعذر علاجها!

تظهر عدم قدرة الإنسان على استخلاص الدروس من الماضي أيضًا في أمله الدائم في إمكانية التحرر من أغلال الأزمة بفضل طرق مختلفة بسيطة لكنها سطحية، ودون أي إعادة توجيه جوهرية للقيم ولا رغبة حقيقية لدى كل إنسان في إدراك مهمته الإلهية الخلاقة على الأرض، والسلوك بطريقة ليست آلية انعكاسية بسيطة ولا كجسد له وظائف هضمية وجنسية وحسب، ترشده الدوافع والغرائز الأساسية. هذا تحديدًا هو منبع الأزمة

[storybridges · Rating 5 out of 5]

It would be difficult to overstate the value of this book. I'm not sure I have ever read anything that so articulates the current state of things pertaining to the world in which we live. Insightful, forensic, and beautifully written: this is one profound book. Though written in the middle years of the Second World War, its message seems more timely now than when it was first published. A truly prophetic volume whose thesis we need to take very seriously.

[Mihail · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of most interesting books I have read so far. It definitely changed my view on our society and civilization from a cultural perspective. I would even dare to say that it can be classified as one of those books that can be called timeless, because it traces and analyses the cyclical process of birth, maturation, aging and death of civilizations, which seems to have logical patterns.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW...eye opening book. Required to read this for a doctorate class but loved every minute of it. Amazing how much has not changed since most of this was written in 1940's or so. Interesting take on culture and society.