by Nick Knight (1996)
Li Da (1890-1966) was one of China's most important Marxist intellectuals and a founding member of the Chinese Communist Party. He played a major role in the introduction of Marxist philosophy and theory to China and in its dissemination among Chinese revolutionaries. In this seminal study, Knight analyzes Li Da's contribution to the flowering of Marxist philosophy and theory in China, examining Li's writings and placing them in the context of the Marxist tradition. Knight also explores Li Da's philosophical relationship with Mao Zedong, who was heavily influenced by Li's works. Through the lens of Li's life and thought, this book provides a detailed assessment of the process of the introduction and dissemination of Marxist philosophy and social theory in China.
Bruno Bosteels
"One of the rising stars of contemporary critical theory, Bruno Bosteels discusses the new currents of thought generated by figures such as Alain Badiou, Jacques Rancière and Slavoj Zizek, theorists spearheading the revival of interest in communism. Bosteels discovers a vital break with “speculative leftism”—incapable as it is of moving beyond lofty abstractions—that reconceptualizes the categories of masses, classes and state."--Publisher description.
Suke Wolton
Just how critical is contemporary social theory? These essays challenge the claims of the main currents of social and cultural studies: identity theory, feminism, social construction, gay studies, criminology and comparative religion. With contributions from G. A. Cohen, Internet innovator Keith Teare and a new generation of Marxists, this collection puts the theory of alienation back into critical thinking. Marxism, Mysticism and Modern Theory argues that without understanding the way that alienated social relations are necessarily mystified, social theory cannot penetrate beneath immediate appearances.
Gene Robinson
"Gene Robinson--The ninth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire, the first openly gay person elected to the episcopate, and the world's leading religious spokesperson for gay rights and gay marriage--holds the religious text of the Bible to be holy and sacred and believes the ensuing two millennia of church history to be relevant to the discussion about gay marriage going on in America today."--Back cover.
Jean M. Twenge, Ph.D
Dr. Jean Twenge offers a portrait of a new generation that is growing up more slowly and more anxious -- but also more tolerant and more safe -- than any generation in history. They stay away from grown-up temptations like alcohol and sex, but they also avoid grown-up responsibilities, like learning to drive, moving out of the house, and gaining financial independence. They're open-minded, forward-thinking, and prudent in ways that previous generations of young people were not. The traits and trends of iGen can seem puzzling or even counterintuitive, but if we want to interact with them successfully -- to parent them, to teach them, to work with them, to market to them -- we need to understand who they are and why they behave in the ways that they do. With generational divides that are deeper and wider than ever, parents, educators, and employers have an urgent need to understand today's rising generation of teens and young adults who are just starting to enter the workforce. As social media and texting replace other recreational activities and ways of communicating, iGen'ers spend less time with their friends and loved ones in person -- which perhaps explains why they are experiencing unprecedented levels of anxiety, depression, and loneliness. But technology is not the only thing that makes iGen distinct. Through her research, interviews, and analysis of data drawn from more than 11 million respondents over multiple decades, Dr. Twenge demonstrates that iGen's uniqueness also lies in how they spend their time, how they behave, and in their surprising attitudes toward religion, sexuality, and politics. As this new group of young people grows into adulthood, we all need to understand them. Because where iGen goes, so goes our nation -- and the world.