Race : a philosophical introduction /

This volume by Taylor (Penn State Univ.) is regularly mentioned among those who teach courses in race theory. In this second edition (1st ed., CH, Jun'04, 41-5837), Taylor adds a new chapter. "From Anchor Babies to Obama: Are We Post-Racial Yet?" analyzes globalization, immigration, and the Obamas. Additionally, Taylor offers several revisions throughout the book. As he indicates, this volume is situated between two developments in critical race theory: the closeness of the field to mainstream philosophy--what is now called "critical philosophies of race"; and the shifting terms of debate considering post-racialism. Chapter 1 asks what race thinking is, and chapter 2 discusses challenges to this query. Chapter 3 introduces Taylor's radical constructivist view. Chapter 4 deals with racial identity, and Chapter 5 considers colorblindness amid the common charges against race-conscious policies like affirmative action. Chapter 6 displays Taylor's Foucauldian insights into his previous race theory, along with discussions that concretely implicate ethics and policy. This book, which remains a definitive introduction, offers a somewhat provocative look into the application of Taylor's theories to contemporary realities. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through researchers/faculty; general readers. T. J. Curry Texas A&M University