Theory of Social Exchange and Personhood

Theory of Social Exchange and Personhood offers a sweeping, original exploration of how individuals negotiate identity, meaning, and transformation through the subtle architecture of human interaction.

Blending philosophy, psychology, and social theory, Baruch Menache examines the foundational role of conversation, power, vulnerability, and reciprocity in shaping the human experience. Across six parts, the book delves into the conceptual dynamics of action, the formation of selfhood, and the communal forces that shape personhood. It challenges readers to rethink the meaning of dialogue, the ethics of attention, and the tensions between individuality and collective life.

Written in a lucid and thought-provoking style, this work is ideal for readers interested in social theory, interpersonal psychology, and philosophical accounts of the self. It will resonate with anyone who has ever wondered how we become who we are — through others, through speech, and through the unseen negotiations of everyday life.

For readers of Byung-Chul Han, Erich Fromm, Iris Murdoch, and contemporary social philosophy.