"Capitalism" is a commonly used term that resists simple definition or straightforward history. Kocka (Humboldt Univ. of Berlin, Germany) adds lucidity and erudition in this excellent overview. After an opening conceptual chapter based on classic social science formulations, the author turns to a historical chapter on merchant capitalism during the medieval period through 1500 with Asian and Islamic as well as European coverage. He then proceeds to survey the expansion of capitalism during the early modern period through 1800 before a chapter on the capitalist era covering developments to the present day. His treatment is balanced, incorporating arguments of advocates as well as critics of capitalism; broad in its intellectual sweep, covering a range of social science disciplines; and well informed by the literature in both economic and social history. It is clearly written in language neophytes should be able to grasp. The volume also has insights and a breadth of learning to offer more specialist readers, even if they may differ on some points of emphasis. Kocka's book provides a paradigm of what a short history of an important concept should accomplish. Summing Up: Essential. All readership levels. --David Mitch, University of Maryland Baltimore County