Credit and Blame

In 'Credit and Blame,' Charles Tilly investigates the mechanisms by which societies assign responsibility, praise, and culpability, emphasizing the social processes that shape reputations and collective memory.

Tilly analyzes everyday interactions and public rituals—awards, condemnations, and narratives—that distribute credit and blame across individuals and institutions.

The book situates these practices within broader social structures and power dynamics, showing how allocations of praise and fault influence behavior and social order.

Tilly's work blends historical examples with sociological theory to reveal patterns in how communities negotiate accountability.

John Ortberg cites the book to illustrate our cultural preoccupation with assigning credit and blame.