Michael Young

"Michael Young has often been described as a key figure in twentieth-century British history. He has also established an international reputation in the United States as well as in the Third World. Two of his books, Family and Kinship in the East End and The Rise of the Meritocracy, have been best-sellers. He gave new significance to family studies and coined the word 'meritocracy'. While his effervescent writings burst with ideas, he has played a critical part in the creation of some of our best-known organisations, including the Consumers' Association, the Open University, the National and…