The Performer

“Urgent, penetrating, moving. Another masterwork from a master thinker.”—Ian Bostridge, author of Song and Self: A Singer’s Reflections on Music and Performance​

“A masterpiece from one of the most important cultural theorists of our time. The Performer is, at once, a memoir, an investigation, a sociological treatise, and a manifesto for rethinking humanity’s next act.”—Eric Klinenberg, Helen Gould Shepard Professor in the Social Sciences, New York University

“An inspiring essay on performance and ritual, packed with insights. Essential reading for anyone interested in public space and the city.”—Anna Minton, author of Big Capital: Who Is London For?

“Richard Sennett calls on his vast knowledge of theater and performance to argue for the social uses of civility—and against the degradation of public social space brought by demagogues such as Donald Trump. This is a book that ranges widely while speaking forcefully to our current needs.”—Peter Brooks, Yale University