Key concepts in critical social theory /

Crossley is not concerned with social theory writ large, but with critical social theory. His book is part of the "SAGE Key Concepts" series, which focuses on specialty areas in sociology. Since he wrote all the 57 selections, they take on an idiosyncratic flavor that reflects his theoretical predilections. Despite the fact that Crossley offers at the outset five criteria for inclusion, the rationale for inclusion cannot be fully appreciated without a discussion of what critical social theory actually means--a discussion that unfortunately is absent. Crossley is not particularly interested in the classic figures of the Frankfurt School (e.g., Adorno, Horkheimer, Benjamin); rather, his exemplars prominently include Habermas, Bourdieu, and Foucault. Unlike figures such as Horkheimer who first defined critical theory, Crossley shows considerable interest in issues related to race and gender. Each entry is written with keen insight and clarity, often locating concepts in relation to one another and to their origins in classical philosophy. The bottom line: Crossley's book offers valuable discussions that make it extremely useful for anyone interested in critical social theory. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. Academic collections. P. Kivisto Augustana College (IL)