Written in 1939, this volume represents the first systematic revision of Parson's theory of action following the publication of The Structure of Social Action. It presents the distinctions among cognitive, affective, and moral dimensions of action systems that later were incorporated in The Social System. It also presents Parson's first formulations in functional theory.

The Rolling Stones: Sociological Perspectives, edited by Helmut Staubmann, draws from a broad spectrum of sociological perspectives to contribute both to the understanding of the phenomenon Rolling Stones and to an in-depth analysis of contemporary society and culture that takes The Stones a starting point. Contributors approach The Rolling Stones from a range of social science perspectives including cultural studies, communication and film studies, gender studies, and the sociology of popular music. The essays in this volume focus on the question of how the worldwide success of The Rolling...