"Why?" is a book about the explanations we give and how we give them - a fascinating look at the way the reasons we offer every day are dictated by, and help constitute, social relationships. Smoothly written by distinguished social historian Charles Tilly, the book explores the manner in which people claim, establish, negotiate, repair, rework, or terminate relations with others through the reasons they give. Replete with sparkling anecdotes about everyday social experiences (including the author"s own), "Why?" makes the case for stories as one of the great human inventions.