This book offers a new synthesis of Max Weber's vocational lectures, focusing on the role of ethics in vocation. It emphasizes Weber's concept of the "inner calling" as presented in his two “vocation” lectures, Science/Academics as Vocation and Politics as Vocation, as well as in The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, which can be seen as developing Weber’s ideas about "Business as Vocation." The book illustrates how Weber used ethical tensions to explain the vocational challenges of capitalism. From this, a new general model is proposed for understanding vocation—not only in academia, politics, and business, but also in a broader contemporary context where, as Charles Taylor notes, narratives of authenticity are increasingly significant. The book offers a fresh perspective on vocation, work, and occupation, presented in a style accessible to advanced undergraduate students.

Tony Waters is Professor of Sociology in the Institute of Sociology and Cultural Organization at Leuphana University, Germany. Previously, he taught at Payap University, Thailand, and California State University, USA. He has published nine books on sociological subjects, including two on the sociology of Max Weber.

Michael Borowski completed his PhD in Theology and Science from Vrije University, Netherlands. He has published on subjects related to theology, ethics, and policing in both German and English. He is co‑founder and coordinator of the Scripture & Theology Forum.