The fascinating title focuses on the four assumptions which are the bedrock of rational choice; rationality, individualism, process and aggregation and draws on a wide range of social issues such as race, marriage, health + education.

Chapter 1 Introduction, Margaret S. Archer, Jonathan Q. Tritter; Part 1 Part I Rationality; Chapter 2 The bird in hand, Peter Wagner; Chapter 3 Homo economicus, Homo sociologicus and Homo sentiens, Margaret S. Archer; Chapter 4 Is rational choice theory 'unreasonable'?, Simon J. Williams; Part 2 Part II Individualism; Chapter 5 Social theory and the underclass, Justin Cruickshank; Chapter 6 (Ir)rational choice, Kay Peggs, Richard Lampard; Chapter 7 Switching allegiances, Jonathan Q. Tritter; Chapter 8 Rational choice or 'Hobson's choice'?, Andrew Parker; Part 3 Part III Temporality; Chapter 9 'I do', Ian Procter; Chapter 10 Decision-making as a process over time, Carol Wolkowitz; Chapter 11 The decision to commit a crime against humanity, Robert Fine, David Hirsh; Chapter 12 'Race', ethnicity and housing decisions, Peter Ratcliffe; Part 4 Conclusion; Chapter 13 'When the battle's lost and won', James A. Beckford; Bibliography; Name Index; Subject Index;