The book consists of a volume of essays in honor of the outstanding sociologist, Edward A. Tiryakian; whose work has spanned a considerable number of countries, regions and topics. He has been highly influential, particularly in American and French sociology.

Introduction; 1. The Dynamo and the Diplomat: Tiryakian's Role in Preserving Sorokin's Reputation - Alan Sica; 2. Edward Tiryakian and Modernization Theory: A Very Special Relationship - Wolfgang Knöbl; 3. Developmental Path (Entwicklungsform): A Neglected Weberian Concept and its Usefulness in Civilizational Analysis of Islam - Saïd Amir Arjomand; 4. The Existential Sociology of Edward Tiryakian: Toward an Integrated Paradigm - Andrey Melnikov; 5. Comparative Reflections on Sociology and Conservatism: The Contributions of Edward A. Tiryakian - Bryan S. Turner; 6. Contemporary Changes in the Processes of Social Differentiation: Towards an Analytical Version of the Theory - Alfonso Pérez-Agote; 7. Considerations on Global Studies - Roland Robertson; 8. Honoring Edward Tiryakian as a Metasociologist: A Metaconceptual Analysis of Prosumption and Related Concepts - George Ritzer; 9. Dangerous Nouns of Process: Differentiation, Rationalization, Modernization - Hans Joas; 10. Modernization as Social Becoming (Ten Theses on Modernization) - Piotr Sztompka; 11. Religion and Evolution - John Simpson; 12. The "Axial Age" vs. Weber's Comparative Sociology of the World Religions - John Torpey