The essays, lectures and reviews featured in this volume represent thinkers from Lukács and Heidegger to Judith Butler and Slavoj Zizek. Often at their most accessible introducing their own key influences and predecessors, these writings therefore provide an ideal way into the traditions of modern critical thought and into their own more difficult writings. As the reader proceeds through the book, the pieces build into a series of overlapping conversations and arguments, spanning different generations and crossing boundaries between French, German and English thought. The book offers an invaluable introduction to traditions of Marxist critical theory, phenomenology, psychoanalysis, post-structuralism and post-modern discourse.

The anthology opens with an introductory essay in which the editor introduces key critical terms and maps out the contested terrain of criticism and critique implicit in the choice of particular works. He also introduces each text with contextualizing notes and suggestions for further reading.