This section was interesting to read in that it ties together the masters to each other in a chronological manner. This master used a theory completely disproved as motivation to research a better theory or he may have dissected a theory to use only that which he thought was worthy and reformed a new theory. This is accomplished by showing how another theory is used by the master to create a new or enhanced theory. This section additionally discusses the master's acceptance or disapproval of others'] theories and how it relates to his own work. It relates the master's work to others in the period, which demonstrates the importance of peer review that has become so important in today's social sciences.
That is followed by an intellectual context section that describes the historical time period of the master and where he fits into the period philosophically.
The biography provides background into the master's childhood, including family members, friends, and co-workers. The second section of each chapter offers a brief biography of each master as well discusses any trials and tribulations he may have experienced growing up. Each chapter begins with an overview of the each master's work that explains in summary style the main ideas or contributions that each contributed to the discipline. The structure of book utilizes a separate chapter for individual masters with the exception of Thomas and Znaniecki who share one. There are two aspects of this review, the first focuses on the structure of the book and the second focuses on the content. Coser attempts to portray sociology from its conception to its adulthood through a chronological discovery of its primary participants and their respective theories. The main thesis of this book is clearly stated in a quote by Goethe preceding the forward, "Was Du Erebt von Deinen Vaetern hast, erwirb es, um es zu besitzen" or "What you have inherited from your fathers, you must earn in order to possess" (Coser, 1977). It ends with a brief discussion of recent American Sociological Theory. This book discusses 14 Masters of Sociological Theory: Auguste Comte, Karl Marx, Herbert Spenser, Emile Durkheim, Georg Simmel, Max Weber, Thorstein Veblen, Charles Horton Cooley, Robert Ezra Park, Vilfredo Pareto, Karl Mannheim, Pitirim A.
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