Edited by Roland Robertson and John Simpson

Introduction; 1. The Dynamo and the Diplomat: Tiryakian's Role in Preserving Sorokin's Reputation - Alan Sica; 2. Edward Tiryakian and Modernization Theory: A Very Special Relationship - Wolfgang Knöbl; 3. Developmental Path (Entwicklungsform): A Neglected Weberian Concept and its Usefulness in Civilizational Analysis of Islam - Saïd Amir Arjomand; 4. The Existential Sociology of Edward Tiryakian: Toward an Integrated Paradigm - Andrey Melnikov; 5. Comparative Reflections on Sociology and Conservatism: The Contributions of Edward A. Tiryakian - Bryan S. Turner; 6. Contemporary Changes in the Processes of Social Differentiation: Towards an Analytical Version of the Theory - Alfonso Pérez-Agote; 7. Considerations on Global Studies - Roland Robertson; 8. Honoring Edward Tiryakian as a Metasociologist: A Metaconceptual Analysis of Prosumption and Related Concepts - George Ritzer; 9. Dangerous Nouns of Process: Differentiation, Rationalization, Modernization - Hans Joas; 10. Modernization as Social Becoming (Ten Theses on Modernization) - Piotr Sztompka; 11. Religion and Evolution - John Simpson; 12. The "Axial Age" vs. Weber's Comparative Sociology of the World Religions - John Torpey

The book consists of a volume of essays in honor of the outstanding sociologist, Edward A. Tiryakian; whose work has spanned a considerable number of countries, regions and topics. He has been highly influential, particularly in American and French sociology.

The contributors include such luminaries as Alan Sica, Bryan Turner, George Ritzer, John Simpson, Piotr Sztompka, Hans Joas, Roland Robertson and John Torpey.

The contributions range across the numerous works of Tiryakian. These include his relationship with the great scholar Pitirim Sorokin, his existentialist sociology, metasociology, his contribution to modernization theory, his important work on civilizations, and his mediation between European and American sociology. Other contributions include chapters on global studies, Max Weber, multiple modernities and the axial age and the work of Robert Bellah on human evolution.