Explaining Social Behavior

Swiss-born Jon Elster's Nuts and Bolts for the Social Sciences was an impressive, if not definitive, account of the nature of explanation in the social sciences. In twenty-six chapters, Elster provided an overview of key explanatory mechanisms in the social sciences. Drawing on a wide range of sources, including psychology, behavioral economics, biology, political science, historical writings and philosophy, he wrote in accessible and jargon-free language. While eschewing formal models, his book offered accuracy and clarity.