Alain Pessin (1949 2005) was a French libertarian sociologist and the author of many books. Steven Rendall is professor emeritus of romance languages at the University of Oregon. He has translated more than forty books into English, including most recently Montaigne: A Life.
"The Sociology of Howard S. Becker is a gift, and everyone who reads it--as every sociologist should--will be thankful. A lucid translation of Un sociologue en liberte: Lecture de Howard S. Becker by the late Alain Pessin, the book presents the panorama of 'Beckerian Sociology'-- a 'theory with a wide horizon' (the book's subtitle). For more than half a century, Becker's writings have been opening our eyes to social phenomena most of us overlook (social conventions, careers, cooperative activities, among others), and Pessin's study opens our eyes to aspects of Becker's work nearly everyone has overlooked, especially Becker's sensitivity to fluid practices, contingent choices, and chance events. Pessin lauds Becker for teaching much while keeping his lessons light, quoting Becker's quip: 'If it's interesting, it's sociology.' Following Becker's example, Pessin gives us an absorbing book that will draw students into the adventure of sociology and inspire its practitioners to fundamentally rethink how they go about their work."-- "Charles Camic, Northwestern University"
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