**Sociology of Religion: An Historical Introduction** by Roberto Cipriani, translated by Laura Ferrarotti, with a new introduction by Howard G. Schneiderman, is a comprehensive overview of the sociology of religion, tracing its historical development and key thinkers. The book provides a detailed account of the origins, classics, contemporaries, and recent developments in the field. It includes a wide range of authors, from early thinkers like Comte and Durkheim to modern sociologists such as Bellah and Luhmann. The book is structured into four main parts: Origins, Classics, Contemporaries, and Recent Developments, each covering different periods and schools of thought in the sociology of religion. The introduction by Howard G. Schneiderman highlights the challenges and complexities of the sociology of religion, noting its broad scope and the difficulty of defining its boundaries. The book also addresses the influence of other disciplines, such as psychology and anthropology, on the sociology of religion. Despite its comprehensive coverage, the book is criticized for its narrow focus and lack of coherence, as well as for including non-sociologists who have contributed to the field. The book is intended for both scholars and students, offering a broad overview of the discipline while also highlighting its limitations and areas for further development. The book is a valuable resource for understanding the sociology of religion, but it also raises important questions about the discipline's identity and direction.**Sociology of Religion: An Historical Introduction** by Roberto Cipriani, translated by Laura Ferrarotti, with a new introduction by Howard G. Schneiderman, is a comprehensive overview of the sociology of religion, tracing its historical development and key thinkers. The book provides a detailed account of the origins, classics, contemporaries, and recent developments in the field. It includes a wide range of authors, from early thinkers like Comte and Durkheim to modern sociologists such as Bellah and Luhmann. The book is structured into four main parts: Origins, Classics, Contemporaries, and Recent Developments, each covering different periods and schools of thought in the sociology of religion. The introduction by Howard G. Schneiderman highlights the challenges and complexities of the sociology of religion, noting its broad scope and the difficulty of defining its boundaries. The book also addresses the influence of other disciplines, such as psychology and anthropology, on the sociology of religion. Despite its comprehensive coverage, the book is criticized for its narrow focus and lack of coherence, as well as for including non-sociologists who have contributed to the field. The book is intended for both scholars and students, offering a broad overview of the discipline while also highlighting its limitations and areas for further development. The book is a valuable resource for understanding the sociology of religion, but it also raises important questions about the discipline's identity and direction.