Richard Sennett

The Corrosion of CharacterThe Personal Consequences of

Work in the New Capitalism

W.W.Norton & Company Inc. NewYork, 1998

Richard Sennett

Born 1943

Professor of sociology at the London School ofEconomics and New York University

Specialized in research on urban studies,labour, and the sociology of culture.

Recent publications: The Corrosion ofCharacter (1998), Flesh and Stone (1994), andThe Conscience of the Eye (1990).

Reasons

Critical voice

Original thinker

Tries to give an overall view of thesituation

Practical as well as theoretical approach

Pleasant and controversial reading

Central idea

In the new economy, people have tocope with new concepts of “flextime”,“teamwork” and “flexibility” that areseemingly presenting new opportunitiesof self-fulfilment, but in reality creatingnew forms of oppression ultimatelydisorienting individuals and underminingtheir emotional and psychological well-being.

Main points

Good observations about the changestaking place in the working place.

Flaws in argumentation lead toinadequate conclusions.

Observations made are not limited toworkplace

Conclusion

Sennett wrongly blames the NewEconomy for the observations hemakes.

Real causes of the loss oforientation?

How to provide meaning in avolatile and chaotic environment?Education