Conversations with Ulrich Beck

by Ulrich Beck

In this new book, Ulrich Beck and the journalist Johannes Willms engage in a series of accessible conversations that reveal and explore the key elements in Beck’s thought.

Ulrich Beck, one of the most important and influential contemporary social thinkers, reveals and expands his work in a series of conversations with journalist Johannes Willms.
These conversations shed new light onto the major themes in Beck’s work and provide an insight into some of the commitments and beliefs that they rest upon.
Includes new thinking on the risk society and on globalisation, themes that have put him at the forefront of contemporary debates.
Witten in a clear and lucid way and thus ideal for anyone seeking to come to grips with Beck’s work.

Genres: Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2000

About the author

Ulrich Beck was a German sociologist. He coined the term risk society and was a professor of Sociology at Munich University and the London School of Economics.

Reviews

[Tara Brabazon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love interview books. When theorists are interviewed, they are often more candid and less obscure than in their scholarly monographs.

This book captures Beck at his height. Zombie concepts are present, along with a presentation of the risk society and the critique of postmodernity. The earlier 'conversations' are better than the latter.

The only problem is that Beck's arguments have been proven wrong in the subsequent decade. However these interviews provide a strong entree into his work, theories and tropes.