Economic Sociology: A systematic inquiry

A fresh look at economic sociology that proposes an original conceptual framework specifying meta-theoretical assumptions, causal mechanisms (particularly, social capital, institutions, and social class), and research sites. Good summary, critique, and agenda-setting, and a very clear read.

Amazon page
Portes' website at Princeton

Economic Lives

A collection of cultural sociologist Viviana Zelizer's most important work on the sociology of economic life

Links
Amazon page
Zelizer's homepage
Zelizer interview on Radio Australia (old)
EconTalk audio podcast

Blink

Bestseller that condenses a good deal of recent scientific research on the relevance and power of first impressions and snap decisions, as well as when to trust them and not

Links
Amazon page
Gladwell's website
Criticism of Blink from Psychology Today

The Ascent of Money

An ambitious project: a concise history of money through the ages. An interesting (if debatable) romp through time to understand how today's financial institutions work (or don't) and the historical processes that generated them.

Links
Amazon site
Ferguson's website
Niall Ferguson on Wikipedia
Ferguson's FT column
Google video links