What do you think?
Rate this book
Respect in a World of Inequality
The powerful case for a society of mutual respect. As various forms of social welfare were dismantled though the last decade of the twentieth century, many thinkers argued that human well-being was best served by a focus on potential, not need.
Richard Sennett thinks differently. In this dazzling blend of personal memoir and reflective scholarship, he addresses need and social responsibility across the gulf of inequality. In the uncertain world of "flexible" social relationships, all are troubled by issues of respect: whether it is an employee stuck with insensitive management, a social worker trying to aid a resentful client, or a virtuoso artist and an accompanist aiming for a perfect duet.
Opening with a memoir of growing up in Chicago's infamous Cabrini Green housing project, Richard Sennett looks at three factors that undermine mutual respect: unequal ability, adult dependency, and degrading forms of compassion. In contrast to current welfare "reforms," Sennett proposes a welfare system based on respect for those in need. He explores how self-worth can be nurtured in an unequal society (for example, through dedication to craft); how self-esteem must be balanced with feeling for others; and how mutual respect can forge bonds across the divide of inequality.
Where erasing inequality was once the goal of social radicals, Sennett seeks a more humane meritocracy: a society that, while accepting inequalities of talent, seeks to nurture the best in all its members and to connect them strongly to one another.
Richard Sennett thinks differently. In this dazzling blend of personal memoir and reflective scholarship, he addresses need and social responsibility across the gulf of inequality. In the uncertain world of "flexible" social relationships, all are troubled by issues of respect: whether it is an employee stuck with insensitive management, a social worker trying to aid a resentful client, or a virtuoso artist and an accompanist aiming for a perfect duet.
Opening with a memoir of growing up in Chicago's infamous Cabrini Green housing project, Richard Sennett looks at three factors that undermine mutual respect: unequal ability, adult dependency, and degrading forms of compassion. In contrast to current welfare "reforms," Sennett proposes a welfare system based on respect for those in need. He explores how self-worth can be nurtured in an unequal society (for example, through dedication to craft); how self-esteem must be balanced with feeling for others; and how mutual respect can forge bonds across the divide of inequality.
Where erasing inequality was once the goal of social radicals, Sennett seeks a more humane meritocracy: a society that, while accepting inequalities of talent, seeks to nurture the best in all its members and to connect them strongly to one another.
306 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
35 people are currently reading
587 people want to read
About the author
Richard Sennett
71 books543 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].
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 21, 2017
Like everything Richard Sennett has written, this book has a great deal of food for thought. Sennett's argument is too complex to easily summarize, but essentially he shows us the importance of the idea that autonomy is “accepting in others what one does not understand about them ... in so doing, you are treating the fact of their autonomy as equal to your own.”
There is a lot in this book about self-respect and mutual respect, but for Sennett the bottom line is the practice of respect by the strong toward those “destined to remain weak.” This is a very important book; if widely read, it might shift the argument about inequality toward something more human than income (note the book’s publication date).
There is a lot in this book about self-respect and mutual respect, but for Sennett the bottom line is the practice of respect by the strong toward those “destined to remain weak.” This is a very important book; if widely read, it might shift the argument about inequality toward something more human than income (note the book’s publication date).
December 3, 2018
nejako sme sa nepochopili s formátom.
July 18, 2009
Respect is something that we ought to grant everyone, but how to we achieve it between particular persons? Sennett takes us through the messy and often contradictory nature of achieving mutual respect. What Sennett highlights as the most serious obstacle to mutual respect is conditions of inequality. No matter what our attempts involve, horizontal and reciprocal respect is invariably made more fragile by the vertical and hierarchical relations of social inequality. Sennett again deploys his concept of character to analyse the burdens of trying to achieve respect in a world that seemingly militates against such efforts.
May 30, 2008
a really moving, part memior part non-fiction, questioning of the roots of respect and inequality in our society and in ourselves.
January 15, 2025
Based on the personal experience of ex-musician, coming from projects, and landing in academia it's quite an engaging take on respect, autonomy, etc. Nothing breathtaking, but very well outlined point of view. Will need to read some Scruton now for balance. However, weirdly, Sennett still brushes with bleakness (despite this take on workmen in corporate environmenta, as well as 'clients' of social support system, is a bit more optimistict than in his 'The corruption of character'). Checking out latest Sennett's books (craftsman, performer, which I'm definitely adding to reading list), I think there is a slight bias in his works, which for a coder in me runs way too close to my own biases.
Otherwise, it's a thoughts organising, engaging, and valuable read. One to come back to every few years too I'd say (I regret not discovering Sennett much earlier).
Otherwise, it's a thoughts organising, engaging, and valuable read. One to come back to every few years too I'd say (I regret not discovering Sennett much earlier).
May 18, 2017
This was really packed, and unfortunately not very clear and organized about what the author wanted to say in the end. Lots of interesting ideas, like how people should have a hand in their own welfare, how rituals can establish a society with clearly defined lines of inequality, and how the flexible version of modern society has made it more difficult to connect with others and has not helped with stability. Inequality cannot be eliminated, and it might a balance between dependence and independence, between compassion and intrusion, between self-respect and communal acceptance, that would help. Maybe I could understand a little bit more with some background on the kinds of issues the author addresses.
September 24, 2020
Ein sehr weises Statement zur Zukunft der Sozialhilfe, das von ihrer Entstehung über die sozialen, historischen, politischen und ökonomischen Rahmenbedingungen bis hin zur Philosophie dahinter wirklich viele Perspektiven beleuchtet und mich als jemand, der im System arbeitet, sehr weitergebracht hat. Der Stern Punktabzug ist für die Soziologenkrankheit, zu viele Fremdwörter und Substantive zu verwenden. Im Vergleich zu einem Fachtext liest sich das Buch wirklich sehr flüssig und ansprechend, aber es soll ja schließlich die gesamte Gesellschaft angesprochen werden.
October 7, 2017
Abandoned on page 29 of 263. Two stars as I can see it is not an awful book just not for me.
Want to read
December 26, 2021Julia Friedrichs: „Working Class“ ➡️
February 19, 2017
Der var dele af denne her bog, som jeg ikke forstod. Hvad var meningen med forfatterens personlige historie om en gryende cellist-karriere, der fik en brat afslutning med en håndskade. Og hvad var det med de "glas-krige"? Var der respekt før glaskrigene, eller var krigene bare det der gjorde den manglende respekt tydelig?
Og er det muligt at vise respekt i en verden af ulighed? og hvordan gør man, hvad forudsætter det? Jeg er ikke sikker på at jeg er nærmere et svar efter at have læst denne bog.
Jo måske har én ting bidt sig fast. Respekt handler om at acceptere at den anden er forskellig fra en selv. At der er noget i den anden som man ikke forstår, men ikke skal lave om.
Så selv om man giver, er det mangel på respekt, hvis man forventer at den anden laver sig om. Kan man forestille sig et velfærdssamfund der giver uden at kræve noget til gengæld. Der er vel også forskel på at kræve en modydelse som fx et stykke arbejde og så at kræve et stykke af modtagerens sjæl.
Forudsætter sociale relationer ulighed? Hvis alle udvekslinger afregnes nøjagtigt er der ingen der skylder hinanden noget. Ingen har noget på hinanden, alle er kvit. Tag eksemplet fra bogen med middagen, hvor alle giver sig til at regne ud eksakt hvor meget hver især skal betale. Her ryger den venskabelige relation. Hvis derimod alle giver lidt ekstra, så kan den der ikke har så meget, give lidt mindre. Det beviser og bekræfter venskabet. Der etableres en ulighed, som gør den venskabelige transaktion mulig.
Lige det eksempel volder mig vanskeligheder. Jeg kan godt godtage, at et venskab baserer sig på ulighed og et væld af transaktioner mellem vennerne, der gives og tages i et væk og herigennem udvikles venskabet. Men hvis jeg betaler mere for middagen, indfører jeg da ikke en ulighed i venskabet, som ikke er nødvendig? Hvorfor skulle jeg det, hvis ikke det er for at demonstrere overlegenhed? Og det er da ikke respekt.
Nej jeg giver op. Det med respekt er i hvert fald en speget og indviklet affære.
Og er det muligt at vise respekt i en verden af ulighed? og hvordan gør man, hvad forudsætter det? Jeg er ikke sikker på at jeg er nærmere et svar efter at have læst denne bog.
Jo måske har én ting bidt sig fast. Respekt handler om at acceptere at den anden er forskellig fra en selv. At der er noget i den anden som man ikke forstår, men ikke skal lave om.
Så selv om man giver, er det mangel på respekt, hvis man forventer at den anden laver sig om. Kan man forestille sig et velfærdssamfund der giver uden at kræve noget til gengæld. Der er vel også forskel på at kræve en modydelse som fx et stykke arbejde og så at kræve et stykke af modtagerens sjæl.
Forudsætter sociale relationer ulighed? Hvis alle udvekslinger afregnes nøjagtigt er der ingen der skylder hinanden noget. Ingen har noget på hinanden, alle er kvit. Tag eksemplet fra bogen med middagen, hvor alle giver sig til at regne ud eksakt hvor meget hver især skal betale. Her ryger den venskabelige relation. Hvis derimod alle giver lidt ekstra, så kan den der ikke har så meget, give lidt mindre. Det beviser og bekræfter venskabet. Der etableres en ulighed, som gør den venskabelige transaktion mulig.
Lige det eksempel volder mig vanskeligheder. Jeg kan godt godtage, at et venskab baserer sig på ulighed og et væld af transaktioner mellem vennerne, der gives og tages i et væk og herigennem udvikles venskabet. Men hvis jeg betaler mere for middagen, indfører jeg da ikke en ulighed i venskabet, som ikke er nødvendig? Hvorfor skulle jeg det, hvis ikke det er for at demonstrere overlegenhed? Og det er da ikke respekt.
Nej jeg giver op. Det med respekt er i hvert fald en speget og indviklet affære.
August 7, 2025
Sennett, modern refah devletlerinde karşılıklı saygının yalnızca eşitler arasında kurulabileceği varsayımına meydan okuyor. Ona göre eşitsizliğin olduğu bir dünyada insanlar, yalnızca maddi imkânlardan değil, insan yerine konulma duygusundan da mahrum kalıyorlar. Saygı eksikliği, açık bir aşağılama içermese bile, bireyin varlığının görmezden gelinmesiyle oluşan sessiz bir şiddet biçimi halini alabiliyor.
Sennett, toplumsal politikaların –özellikle refah sistemlerinin– bireyleri edilgenleştirmesini ve onları kendi hayatları üzerinde söz sahibi olmaktan uzaklaştırmasını eleştiriyor. Bu edilgenlik, insanların kendilerine duydukları saygıyı da yitiriyor. Kendi otobiyografik deneyiminden yola çıkarak anlattığı Cabrini Green konutlarında yaşadığı dönem, bu saygı eksikliğinin fiziksel mekânlar ve sosyal sınıflarla nasıl iç içe geçtiğini gösteriyor.
Ayrıca, yazarın “yaralayan merhamet” kavramı altındaki tartışmaları da oldukça çarpıcı: Yardım eli uzatan kişinin üstün konumda kalması, yardım alanı küçültebilir; hatta daha fazla utanca neden olabilir. Bu nedenle Sennett, sosyal politikalarda bireyin aktif ve özerk bir fail olarak görülmesi gerektiğini savunur. Bu yaklaşım, yalnızca ekonomik değil, aynı zamanda ahlaki bir eşitliği de gözetir.
Sennett, toplumsal politikaların –özellikle refah sistemlerinin– bireyleri edilgenleştirmesini ve onları kendi hayatları üzerinde söz sahibi olmaktan uzaklaştırmasını eleştiriyor. Bu edilgenlik, insanların kendilerine duydukları saygıyı da yitiriyor. Kendi otobiyografik deneyiminden yola çıkarak anlattığı Cabrini Green konutlarında yaşadığı dönem, bu saygı eksikliğinin fiziksel mekânlar ve sosyal sınıflarla nasıl iç içe geçtiğini gösteriyor.
Ayrıca, yazarın “yaralayan merhamet” kavramı altındaki tartışmaları da oldukça çarpıcı: Yardım eli uzatan kişinin üstün konumda kalması, yardım alanı küçültebilir; hatta daha fazla utanca neden olabilir. Bu nedenle Sennett, sosyal politikalarda bireyin aktif ve özerk bir fail olarak görülmesi gerektiğini savunur. Bu yaklaşım, yalnızca ekonomik değil, aynı zamanda ahlaki bir eşitliği de gözetir.
February 15, 2008
Very good
January 17, 2010
Have to interpret my rating in the context of the sociology genre... Otherwise it would be a 2!
Read
November 7, 2011Richard Sennett, AB'64
Author
Author
Want to read
August 30, 2016
June 1, 2010
Not bad, I suppose. Interesting viewpoint.
October 27, 2010
Great book!
Read
December 16, 2012good
April 30, 2017
From my 2006 book diary:
Richard Sennet takes up an issue much in the media these days - the issue of respect in the public space.
He draws on both professional research and private recollection and manages to mix the two to make a convincing review of change in Western society, amongst it: the fall of inherited privilege and concurrent rise of meritocracy, from the days of Samuel Pepys to current times.
Richard Sennet takes up an issue much in the media these days - the issue of respect in the public space.
He draws on both professional research and private recollection and manages to mix the two to make a convincing review of change in Western society, amongst it: the fall of inherited privilege and concurrent rise of meritocracy, from the days of Samuel Pepys to current times.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews