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Authority
This book is a study of both how we experience authority and how we might experience it differently. Sennett explores the bonds that rebellion against authority paradoxically establishes, showing how this paradox has been in the making since the French Revolution and how today it expresses itself in offices, in factories, and in government as well as in the family. Drawing on examples from psychology, sociology, and literature, he eloquently projects how we might reinvigorate the role of authority according to good and rational ideals. A master of the interplay between politics and psychology, Richard Sennett here analyzes the nature, the role, and the faces of authority―authority in personal life, in the public realm, authority as an idea. Why have we become so afraid of authority? What real needs for authority do we have―for guidance, stability, images of strength? What happens when our fear of and our need for authority come into conflict? In exploring these questions, Sennett examines traditional forms of authority (The father’s in the family, the lord’s in society) and the dominant contemporary styles of authority, and he shows how our needs for, no less than our resistance to, authority have been shaped by history and culture, as well as by psychological disposition.
224 pages, Paperback
First published February 12, 1981
15 people are currently reading
431 people want to read
About the author
Richard Sennett
66 books555 followersRichard Sennett has explored how individuals and groups make social and cultural sense of material facts -- about the cities in which they live and about the labour they do. He focuses on how people can become competent interpreters of their own experience, despite the obstacles society may put in their way. His research entails ethnography, history, and social theory. As a social analyst, Mr. Sennett continues the pragmatist tradition begun by William James and John Dewey.
His first book, The Uses of Disorder, [1970] looked at how personal identity takes form in the modern city. He then studied how working-class identities are shaped in modern society, in The Hidden Injuries of Class, written with Jonathan Cobb. [1972] A study of the public realm of cities, The Fall of Public Man, appeared in 1977; at the end of this decade of writing, Mr. Sennett sought to account the philosophic implications of this work in Authority [1980].
At this point he took a break from sociology, composing three novels: The Frog who Dared to Croak [1982], An Evening of Brahms [1984] and Palais Royal [1987]. He then returned to urban studies with two books, The Conscience of the Eye, [1990], a work focusing on urban design, and Flesh and Stone [1992], a general historical study of how bodily experience has been shaped by the evolution of cities.
In the mid 1990s, as the work-world of modern capitalism began to alter quickly and radically, Mr. Sennett began a project charting its personal consequences for workers, a project which has carried him up to the present day. The first of these studies, The Corrosion of Character, [1998] is an ethnographic account of how middle-level employees make sense of the “new economy.” The second in the series, Respect in a World of Inequality, [2002} charts the effects of new ways of working on the welfare state; a third, The Culture of the New Capitalism, [2006] provides an over-view of change. Most recently, Mr. Sennett has explored more positive aspects of labor in The Craftsman [2008], and in Together: The Rituals, Pleasures and Politics of Cooperation [2012].
His first book, The Uses of Disorder, [1970] looked at how personal identity takes form in the modern city. He then studied how working-class identities are shaped in modern society, in The Hidden Injuries of Class, written with Jonathan Cobb. [1972] A study of the public realm of cities, The Fall of Public Man, appeared in 1977; at the end of this decade of writing, Mr. Sennett sought to account the philosophic implications of this work in Authority [1980].
At this point he took a break from sociology, composing three novels: The Frog who Dared to Croak [1982], An Evening of Brahms [1984] and Palais Royal [1987]. He then returned to urban studies with two books, The Conscience of the Eye, [1990], a work focusing on urban design, and Flesh and Stone [1992], a general historical study of how bodily experience has been shaped by the evolution of cities.
In the mid 1990s, as the work-world of modern capitalism began to alter quickly and radically, Mr. Sennett began a project charting its personal consequences for workers, a project which has carried him up to the present day. The first of these studies, The Corrosion of Character, [1998] is an ethnographic account of how middle-level employees make sense of the “new economy.” The second in the series, Respect in a World of Inequality, [2002} charts the effects of new ways of working on the welfare state; a third, The Culture of the New Capitalism, [2006] provides an over-view of change. Most recently, Mr. Sennett has explored more positive aspects of labor in The Craftsman [2008], and in Together: The Rituals, Pleasures and Politics of Cooperation [2012].
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 12, 2014
The first three-quarters of this book are five stars. It ways mind-blowing and anyone who is concerned about authority, especially if you are in a position of authority in a business, civic organization or family should absolutely read this book. I would dream of it being required reading at MBA school.
It does break down a bit toward the end. There is the always tricky issue of personal responsibility and I think he aims a little high: rejecting the concept of authority doesn't really help if the person in authority can kill you. Let's say he fails to adequately problematize the issue.
And then the final chapter devolves into a level of lyricism until the final paragraph of the book is simply poetry. Which is fine for poetry, but the format of the book calls for something more direct. It seems he throws up his hands, declares he cannot reach a resolution, and walks away from the dialectic mess.
As, really, we all wish we could do, but I *expected* him to offer a conclusion even if it wasn't true.
It does break down a bit toward the end. There is the always tricky issue of personal responsibility and I think he aims a little high: rejecting the concept of authority doesn't really help if the person in authority can kill you. Let's say he fails to adequately problematize the issue.
And then the final chapter devolves into a level of lyricism until the final paragraph of the book is simply poetry. Which is fine for poetry, but the format of the book calls for something more direct. It seems he throws up his hands, declares he cannot reach a resolution, and walks away from the dialectic mess.
As, really, we all wish we could do, but I *expected* him to offer a conclusion even if it wasn't true.
December 16, 2017
second half sucks complete ass
September 7, 2024
Sennet'e göre otorite; somut bir şey olmayıp, başkalarının gücünde, somut gibi görünen bir sağlamlık ve güvenlik arayışı olarak tanımlanıyor. Günümüzde bu kavramın daha çok baskıcı algı yönetimi ile desteklenip, korku unsuruna çevrildiğini düşünüyorum.
February 12, 2020
Otorite, işlevsel yönü olan birşeydir. Otorite bağı, güçlü ve zayıf imgelerinden oluşarak, iktidarın duygusal bir ifadeye bürünmesidir. Duygusallık dediğimiz mefhum, insanın angaje olduğu bir yorumlama ve dünyaya anlam verme eylemi olarak tanımlanmaktadır. Duygular aracılığı ile insanlar birbirini fark etmekte ve toplumsallığı inşa etmektedir.
Otorite, temel bir gereksinim olduğu ölçüde, onun olmadığı fikri de korkuya sebep olmaktadır. Tabi yokluğu kadar varlığı da bir korku sebebidir otoritenin... Özgürlük tahayyülerimizin karşısında duran başlıca imgedir.
Otorite (author-ity), etimolojik bir bağlamda, üretkenliği çağrıştırmaktadır. Burada bir yanılsama devreye girmektedir. Çünkü otorite imgesi, varoluşunu toplumsal-zamansal koşullara dayandırmakta birlikte bir edebiyet iddiası da ileri sürmektedir. Aynı zamanda, bu bir çelişkidir.
Yanı sıra, otoritenin somutlaştığı figürler, semboller ve toplumsal imajlar bulunmaktadır. Otoriteyi yadsımamız ve onunla reddetmek üzerinde bir bağ oluşturmamız da buna bağlı olmaktadır. Bu lider başımızdan giderse herşey düzelecek,patron olmasa hergün daha mutlu geçecek gibisinden yadsıma ve reddedişler, aynı zamanda otoritenin tanınması anlamına da gelmektedir. Burada, otoritenin ontolojik yarılması içerisine davet ediyor bizi Senneth... Bu noktadaki tartışmalar gerçekten dikkat çekici...
Otorite, güç hiyerarşileri, güç farklılıkları kurmaktadır. Her zaman, güce dayalı kişisel bir üstünlük iddiası ileri sürer. Biz, otoriteyi, kendimiz var ettiğimiz bir güç ve zayıflık olarak düşünmekte zorlanırız. Bu yüzden, otorite yanılsama ile işe koyulur. Bu yanılsamanın aşırı bir sonucu tiranlığın iktidarıdır.
Otorite, temel bir gereksinim olduğu ölçüde, onun olmadığı fikri de korkuya sebep olmaktadır. Tabi yokluğu kadar varlığı da bir korku sebebidir otoritenin... Özgürlük tahayyülerimizin karşısında duran başlıca imgedir.
Otorite (author-ity), etimolojik bir bağlamda, üretkenliği çağrıştırmaktadır. Burada bir yanılsama devreye girmektedir. Çünkü otorite imgesi, varoluşunu toplumsal-zamansal koşullara dayandırmakta birlikte bir edebiyet iddiası da ileri sürmektedir. Aynı zamanda, bu bir çelişkidir.
Yanı sıra, otoritenin somutlaştığı figürler, semboller ve toplumsal imajlar bulunmaktadır. Otoriteyi yadsımamız ve onunla reddetmek üzerinde bir bağ oluşturmamız da buna bağlı olmaktadır. Bu lider başımızdan giderse herşey düzelecek,patron olmasa hergün daha mutlu geçecek gibisinden yadsıma ve reddedişler, aynı zamanda otoritenin tanınması anlamına da gelmektedir. Burada, otoritenin ontolojik yarılması içerisine davet ediyor bizi Senneth... Bu noktadaki tartışmalar gerçekten dikkat çekici...
Otorite, güç hiyerarşileri, güç farklılıkları kurmaktadır. Her zaman, güce dayalı kişisel bir üstünlük iddiası ileri sürer. Biz, otoriteyi, kendimiz var ettiğimiz bir güç ve zayıflık olarak düşünmekte zorlanırız. Bu yüzden, otorite yanılsama ile işe koyulur. Bu yanılsamanın aşırı bir sonucu tiranlığın iktidarıdır.
April 7, 2025
''Hegel, mutsuz bilinçten, kişinin içindeki köleyi ve efendiyi tanıdığı an olarak söz eder. Artık, dünyanın ezdiği ''zavallı ben'' yoktur; bir biçimde içimizdeki zalimi de tanırız. Bu zalim sonuç olarak nasıl biridir?
Klasik politik düşüncede bu sorunun yanıtı genellikle gömülü kulluk görüşüne dayanılarak verilir. İnsanlar öylesine ürkek, alıştıkları rahatı korumaya öylesine istekli ve öylesine cahillerdir ki efendileri olmadan edemezler; kendilerini güvencede hissetmek için köle olmayı isterler. Gönüllü kölelerin içindeki efendi tembelliktir.''
Klasik politik düşüncede bu sorunun yanıtı genellikle gömülü kulluk görüşüne dayanılarak verilir. İnsanlar öylesine ürkek, alıştıkları rahatı korumaya öylesine istekli ve öylesine cahillerdir ki efendileri olmadan edemezler; kendilerini güvencede hissetmek için köle olmayı isterler. Gönüllü kölelerin içindeki efendi tembelliktir.''
September 7, 2022
Richard Sennett bu kitapta otorite kavramını her yönüyle ele alıyor. Paternalizm ile patrimonyalizm arasındaki farklardan, yadsıma ve ret yoluyla otoriteyle kurulan bağlara, özerklikten emir komuta zincirine ve hatta Hegel'in köle-efendi ilişkisine kadar konuyu birçok yönden irdeliyor. Bunu yaparken edebiyat eserleriyle ilişkilendirip örnekler vermesi okumayı benim açımdan keyifli hale getiren unsurdu. Ayrıca, Kamil Durand'ın çok başarılı çevirisi okuma keyfimi katladı diyebilirim.
April 23, 2020
I read this book in college and it really helped me distinguish between power and authority and how both are necessary for really effective leadership. Let's say you have been given the power of a position but you are not seen as an authority on that position (i.e. you were not democratically elected or you have no experience and knowledge required of the position). Or vice versa, you have the expertise and knowledge required for the position but the position does not have sufficient power or the person fulfilling the position doesn't fully embrace or use the power of the position (lacks charisma, gravitas or communication skills, or secedes power to another position). Very interesting book.
November 9, 2021
Although it is 40 years since the book was published, it draws its insights form historical examples which remain as informative and relevant as the day it was written.
The book works through various models of authority, telling us in chapter one about the difference between tradition, legality and charismatic models.
Chapter 2 provides informative examples of paternalism with a case study of the nineteenth century philanthropist, George Pullman.
Chapter 3 tells us about ‘autonomy’ and its relationship to authority through shifting senses from ‘self-possession’ to ‘self-expression.’
The last three chapters seemed less clearly focused. And this is a shame because they include a wealth of interesting details. We hear, for example, that caning children in schools was first questioned not because of the violence involved, but because it was deemed unsanitary (43%).
Towards the end of the book the author makes some interesting points about how to make authority more visible. He is particularly critical of the use of passive voice in phrases like ‘it was decided that’ (83%). This is an insightful observation, as passive voice can indeed obscure who is actually making decisions. It has the potential to hide leaders from their own decisions and to separate themselves from the responsibility of the impact of their decisions.
I was disappointed that there wasn’t more reference to Psychology, and particularly to some of the interesting experiments which have shown how people react to authority and to authoritative appearing symbols. Citing Hegel’s views in chapter 4 was not inappropriate, but I thought that a little less philosophy would have made room for more psychology.
I think the book could also have usefully told us more about epistemic authorities which can compel beliefs (ie not just actions). There are subtle similarities between the uses and abuses of ‘authorities’ in both senses, and it would have been helpful to explore those.
Overall this is a very readable book which is interesting and informative.
The book works through various models of authority, telling us in chapter one about the difference between tradition, legality and charismatic models.
Chapter 2 provides informative examples of paternalism with a case study of the nineteenth century philanthropist, George Pullman.
Chapter 3 tells us about ‘autonomy’ and its relationship to authority through shifting senses from ‘self-possession’ to ‘self-expression.’
The last three chapters seemed less clearly focused. And this is a shame because they include a wealth of interesting details. We hear, for example, that caning children in schools was first questioned not because of the violence involved, but because it was deemed unsanitary (43%).
Towards the end of the book the author makes some interesting points about how to make authority more visible. He is particularly critical of the use of passive voice in phrases like ‘it was decided that’ (83%). This is an insightful observation, as passive voice can indeed obscure who is actually making decisions. It has the potential to hide leaders from their own decisions and to separate themselves from the responsibility of the impact of their decisions.
I was disappointed that there wasn’t more reference to Psychology, and particularly to some of the interesting experiments which have shown how people react to authority and to authoritative appearing symbols. Citing Hegel’s views in chapter 4 was not inappropriate, but I thought that a little less philosophy would have made room for more psychology.
I think the book could also have usefully told us more about epistemic authorities which can compel beliefs (ie not just actions). There are subtle similarities between the uses and abuses of ‘authorities’ in both senses, and it would have been helpful to explore those.
Overall this is a very readable book which is interesting and informative.
January 2, 2020
Authority
The beginning is more compelling than the end. The beginning was very stimulating, the middle and end less so. Still this book is food for thought for anyone curious about the nature of power and authority.
The beginning is more compelling than the end. The beginning was very stimulating, the middle and end less so. Still this book is food for thought for anyone curious about the nature of power and authority.
December 12, 2020
Sosyal psikoloji alanında ilham verici bir çalışma... Fakat otoriteye ilişkin bazı yerler çok muğlak kalmış. Kamu yönetimi alanında da okutulabilecek bir kitap. Zira içinde yönetime ilişkin tarihsel bilgiler ve pozitivist çalışmalar da ele alınmış.
October 5, 2017
Indispensabile la disamina del paternalismo e dei perché del vincolo fra autorità e sottomissione contenuta nella prima parte. Parzialmente riuscita la seconda parte di libro.
July 3, 2019
Adequate
Due to my lack of background knowledge in sociology, I thought that the first third of Richard Sennett's "essay" was good. It gave me a challenge by sitting and reflecting on some of the content that it offered and how I was affected by it within my family and as an adult in the workplace.
Throughout the book the author defined what authority is sociologically, politically and psychologically. The author used case examples to make his point by primarily using the two contrasting types of authority, paternalism and patrimonialism and that because of the book being an "essay," I felt that the number of definitions used were very limited.
I thought the story started to become inconsistent starting at chapter 4 and it was as if the author was trying to just finish the story he created. I am under the impression that because the author's intent was to make this an essay, he limited the scope of what he wanted discuss.
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Dictionary/Reference Review Word Count: 83
Historical Reference Review: 1
Grammatical Error Count: 2
Due to my lack of background knowledge in sociology, I thought that the first third of Richard Sennett's "essay" was good. It gave me a challenge by sitting and reflecting on some of the content that it offered and how I was affected by it within my family and as an adult in the workplace.
Throughout the book the author defined what authority is sociologically, politically and psychologically. The author used case examples to make his point by primarily using the two contrasting types of authority, paternalism and patrimonialism and that because of the book being an "essay," I felt that the number of definitions used were very limited.
I thought the story started to become inconsistent starting at chapter 4 and it was as if the author was trying to just finish the story he created. I am under the impression that because the author's intent was to make this an essay, he limited the scope of what he wanted discuss.
--------------------------------------------
Dictionary/Reference Review Word Count: 83
Historical Reference Review: 1
Grammatical Error Count: 2
June 18, 2010
Every time I read Sennett I wind up learning something--and usually reconsidering things that I thought I understood. This book shows it age a little but not in a way that significantly impairs its value.
June 14, 2011
Not as great as The Fall of Public Man. Felt like Sennett was feeling out his thoughts on the subject and writing them as they came to him. Every thought the man has appears to be freaking great, though.
Read
October 18, 2008An earlier (but important) part of Sennett's canon that predates Cyril Smith's MARX AT THE MILLENIUM
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews