A clothier and a deeply religious man, Joseph Ryder faithfully kept a diary from 1733 until his death, two and a half million words later, in 1768. Recently rediscovered and brilliantly interpreted by historian Matthew Kadane, Ryder’s diary provides an illuminating, real-life perspective on the relationship between capitalism and Protestantism at a time when Britain was rapidly changing from a traditional to a modern society. It also provides fascinating insights on the early modern family, the birth of industrialization, the history of Puritanism, the origins of Unitarianism, melancholy, and the making of the British middle class.

"“Superb . . . all in all, this is a remarkable book.”—American Historical Review" - American Historical Review

"“Fascinating reading . . . Kadane has produced a consistently excellent piece of scholarship that challenges and adds many layers to Weber’s classic statement on the spirit of capitalism . . . well-written and engaging.”—The Journal of British Studies " - The Journal of British Studies