'This new book by Professor Kemper presents a thought-provoking approach to the theory of social relations and interaction, based on the two concepts of status and power. At the same time it delivers a penetrating critique of a rival approach that interprets social life as a form of ritual. Exemplifications and empirical cases contribute to make the book attractive and accessible to the reader.' Carl-Göran Heidegren, Lund University, Sweden 'The question of what influences our behaviours the most, individual factors, the social and structural conditions of the environment, or the interaction of both, is still a current sociological debate. Kemper proposes a theoretical model from a radical standpoint: our behaviours, choices, and motives are status-power relational products and the self is irrelevant for sociological analyses. This book has the potential to ignite passionate and constructive theoretical debates in the fields of social psychology and social inequality... Kemper navigates with great ability classical and contemporary theories showcasing his vast knowledge of a wide range of sociological oeuvres. By doing so, he offers a comprehensive understanding of concepts such as ritual, collective effervescence, and self-entrainment. Kemper contextualizes historically and sociopolitically the work and the lives of Durkheim, Goffman, and Collins and this informs the reader of how different theoretical concepts emerged and developed over time. This book’s writing style is made accessible not only to academics who have a great interest in social theory, but also to a wider audience interested in what lies behind individuals’ choices, emotions, and behaviours... In sum, this book provides an interesting theoretical model that incorporates hierarchical relations and power to the understanding of social behaviour, something that is not always emphasized in social psychology... This original provoking book, full of meaningful examples and illustrations, has the
