# 17: Why?

what happens when people give reasons ... and why

Charles Tilly

Goddamn ... I finally finished this sucker. It was quite painful. I must say that this is not a good book, it is a very hard read and is quite disjointed. I do not want to spend too much time summarizing this (I hardly spend much time even on the books that I enjoyed) so I will make it quick and painless.

Or friend Tilly divides up given reasons into 4 overlapping categories (15):
Conventions: conventionally accepted reasons for dereliction, deviation, distinction or good fortune.
Stories: explanatory narratives incorporating cause-effect accounts
Codes: governing actions such as legal judgments, religious penance, or awarding of medals.
Technical Accounts: how a "professional" or a "specialist" might explain a given occurrence

He also puts together as a chart:
Popular Specialized
Formulas Conventions Codes
Cause-Effect Accounts Stories Technical Accounts

What I did find interesting is how the giving of reasons also works to "claim, confirm repair or deny social relationships". Think about how you expect different reasons from your spouse, friend, co-worker or a stranger.

Anyway ... check out the first review on Amazon (by Skisko). Just what I expected.

I also thought that the use of all the 9/11 stories is just some slick marketing to attract people to the book. They really don't connect at all to the rest of the book.