Individualization argues that we are in the midst of a fundamental change in the nature of society and politics. This change hinges around two processes: globalization and individualization. The book demonstrates that individualization is a structural characteristic of highly differentiated societies, and does not imperil social cohesion, but actually makes it possible. Ulrich Beck and Elisabeth Beck-Gernsheim argue that it is vital to distinguish between the neo-liberal idea of the free-market individual and the concept of individualization. The result is the most complete discussion of individualization currently available, showing how individualization relates to basic social rights and also paid employment; and concluding that in as much as basic rights are internalized and everyone wants to or must be economically active, the spiral of individualization destroys the given foundations of social co-existence.

乌尔里希·贝克(Ulrich Beck，1944— )，当今西方社会学界最有影响的学者之一，德国慕尼黑大学社会学教授，英国伦敦经济学院社会学教授，《社会世界》(Soziale Welt)主编，主要研究领域为生态问题、风险社会、自反性现代化、个体化、全球化等。代表作为《风险社会》(Risk Society，1986)与《个体化》(Individualization，2002)。

伊丽莎白·贝克-格恩斯海姆(Elisabeth Beck-Gernsheim，1946— )，德国社会学家、心理学家和哲学家，埃尔兰根大学社会学教授，主要研究领域为社会变迁与家庭制度的改变状况。代表作为《半衰期》(Das halbierte Leben，1980)、《家庭之后是什么？》(Was kommt nach der Familie? 2000)。