David Riesman

About

An American sociologist and author, he is particularly known for his bestselling book, The Lonely Crowd. The work deals primarily with the alienating effects of modern society.

Before Fame

He studied law at Harvard. He also completed coursework in history, government, and economics; all of these studies fueled his later sociological work.

Trivia

He divided Americans into three character types: other-directed, inner-directed, and tradition-directed.

Family Life

He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father was a professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Associated With

C. Wright Mills was another popular sociologist whose work focused on the post-World War II era.