Andreas Reckwitz

4.5923 learners

In *The End of Illusions*, sociologist Andreas Reckwitz dismantles the outdated myths of late modern society—from the false promise of universal Western modernization to the illusion of a stable, flat middle class. He dissects the fierce clash between two competing cultural systems: hyperculture, driven by cosmopolitan urban elites who curate global identities through diverse cultural resources, and cultural essentialism, embraced by disenfranchised groups clinging to rigid collective identities to cope with status loss. Reckwitz also maps the seismic shift in Western class structures, replacing the post-war egalitarian middle class with a polarized hierarchy of knowledge-focused new elites, struggling traditional middle classes, and a precarious new underclass. He explores the rise of cognitive-cultural capitalism, where intangible assets and symbolic value dominate economic activity, and unpacks the paradox of late modern self-realization—how the relentless pursuit of personal fulfillment fuels burnout, disillusionment, and social division. Finally, he diagnoses the crisis of open liberalism and outlines a path toward embedded liberalism, a regulatory framework that balances individual freedom with social cohesion, offering a way out of the era’s deepening rifts.

Yajun Zheng

3.7609 learners

Drawing on in-depth interviews with 62 graduating students from top Chinese universities, *After Acing the College Entrance Exam* unpacks the hidden inequalities shaping elite students’ post-college trajectories. Beyond the hype of the gaokao (China’s high-stakes college entrance exam), the book reveals how class background, cultural capital, and access to unwritten campus rules divide students into two distinct groups: goal-driven strategists who navigate academic and career systems with intentionality, and intuition-reliant learners who struggle to adapt to elite university norms. It explores four career identity types—autonomous strivers, opportunistic achievers, lost navigators, and value-aligned contributors—and highlights how marginalized students face "cultural disembedding" and identity confusion as they navigate unfamiliar elite spaces. Crucially, the book emphasizes that individual agency can break class barriers: many students redefine success, reframe their goals, and leverage campus resources to carve out meaningful paths, challenging the myth that elite education only reproduces social hierarchies.