In this volume, sixteen leading international sociologists share their experiences of becoming practitioners in the field. Each contributor provides an auto-biographical review of their journey into the discipline, with special attention paid to the intellectual and social-political contexts in which their work matured and the anticipated future direction of their particular sociological area. 'Sociology after the second world war produced a distinctive set of international scholarly careers. This collection brings together a number of fascinating lives which took advantage of these new possibilities. The contingencies of scholarship and the ways in which personalities and styles shaped and were shaped by these new circumstances come through clearly. An excellent contribution to our understanding of the personal side of global scholarship in a pivotal time.' Stephen P. Turner, University of South Florida, USA 'Mathieu Deflem has created an exciting, wide reaching, and unusual book. Sociologists write about the need to bring light into the tangles and confusions of societies in turbulent change. In spite of all their adventures in global change, they are most dedicated to the value of sociology: to contribute clear knowledge of society. And this book shows it.' Burkart Holzner, University of Pittsburgh, USA