"Elias...described here as one of the outstanding social thinkers of the twentieth century. His work and thinking went further, if the chapter scheme is a fair indication - it includes discussion of the theory of knowledge and the sciences and indeed of humanity as a whole." Books Ireland Oct 1998

• Part 1: Norbert Elias - a determined life in uncertain times. Part 2 - the civilizing process: manners; states and courts; psychogenesis and sociogenesis. Part 3 - extensions: established-outsiders relations and functional democratization; sport and violence; involvement and detachment; the development of the social sciences; humanity as a whole; civilization and decivilization; some principles of process sociology. Afterword: "Mozart" and "The Germans", "The Symbol Theory"; Elias's reputation in Europe and America; sociology of emotions; hindsight.