The Giddens Reader

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by Anthony Giddens,

Edited by Philip Cassell

Stanford University Press

Due/Published April 1994, 368 pages, paper

ISBN 0804722048

The Giddens Reader contains a comprehensive selection of extracts from the works of the pre-eminent social theorist, Anthony Giddens. A wide range of important theoretical issues are covered, including Giddens' encounter with the writings of Marx, Durkheim, Weber, Parsons and Foucault. The Reader also presents elaborations of Giddens' own innovative approach to the fundamental questions of social theory. His views on power, time-space and the relationship between action and structure are well represented, as are his illuminating analyses of the "late modern age." The readings are set out in such a way as to demonstrate the connections between Giddens' various writings - the uninitiated are thus presented with a framework to enable them to go on to read the complete texts with a knowledge of their position in the greater scheme of his work - and are of sufficient length to allow the reader to experience an extended and integrated line of argument and articulation of ideas. The readings are prefaced by an informative and straightforward introduction by the editor.