Claude Lefort is one of the leading social and political theorists in France today. This anthology of his most important work published over the last four decades makes his writing widely accessible to an English-speaking audience for the first time.<br /> <br /> With exceptional skill Lefort combines the analysis of contemporary political events with a sensitivity to the history of political thought. His critical account of the development of bureaucracy and totalitarianism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe is a timely contribution to current debates about the nature and shortcomings of these societies. His incisive analyses of Marx's theory of history and concept of ideology provide the backdrop for a highly original account of the role of symbolism in modern societies. While critical of many traditional assumptions and doctrines, Lefort develops a political position based on a reappraisal of the idea of human rights and a reconsideration of what "democracy" means today.<br /> <br /> The Political Forms of Modern Society is a major contribution to contemporary social and political theory. The volume includes a substantial introduction that describes the context of Lefort's writings and highlights the central themes of his work.<br /> <br /> Claude Lefort teaches social and political theory at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Paris. He was a founder, with Cornelius Castoriadis, of the influential independent journal of the left, Socialisme ou Barbarie. John B. Thompson is Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Cambridge.

This compelling book explores the explosive pace of change in China and how its citizens are grappling with a dramatically new world, both in the public and private spheres. China’s stratospheric growth has made it the second largest economy in the world—and one of the most unequal. Marxist ideology and socialist ideals have almost completely collapsed, replaced by a combination of materialism and assertive nationalism. The vast migration of labor from countryside to city has continued apace. The pressures of a hypercompetitive market economy are ripping apart the traditional family and threatening the environment. Corruption has reached new heights. The political system is even more rigid, but perhaps more brittle, than a decade ago.
There is enormous popular pride in the ascension of China to the rank of global superpower and general satisfaction in the material benefits that the poor as well as the rich have been gaining from an expanding economy. But there is also great restlessness, anger about structural injustice and political corruption, and a search for new forms of spirituality and ethics to replace a collapsing moral order. The question “What does it mean, in the new day, to be Chinese?” lurks just beneath the surface. This unique interdisciplinary book frames this central issue through an innovative set of case studies on such cutting-edge topics as reality dating shows, countercultural invented language, star bloggers, faith healers, and subversive jokes.

Civility is desirable and possible, but can this fragile ideal be guaranteed? The Importance of Being Civil offers the most comprehensive look at the nature and advantages of civility, throughout history and in our world today. Esteemed sociologist John Hall expands our understanding of civility as related to larger social forces--including revolution, imperialism, capitalism, nationalism, and war--and the ways that such elements limit the potential for civility. Combining wide-ranging historical and comparative evidence with social and moral theory, Hall examines how the nature of civility has fluctuated in the last three centuries, how it became lost, and how it was reestablished in the twentieth century following the two world wars. He also considers why civility is currently breaking down and what can be done to mitigate this threat. Paying particular attention to the importance of individualism, of rules allowing people to create their own identities, Hall offers a composite definition of civility. He focuses on the nature of agreeing to differ over many issues, the significance of fashion and consumption, the benefits of inclusive politics on the nature of identity, the greater ability of the United States in integrating immigrants in comparison to Europe, and the conditions likely to assure peace in international affairs. Hall factors in those who are opposed to civility, and the various methods with which states have destroyed civil and cooperative relations in society. The Importance of Being Civil is a decisive and sophisticated addition to the discussion of civil society in its modern cultural and historical contexts.

入圍二○一○年英國社會學協會（BSA）「健康與疾病社會學」書卷獎
與疾病共處，是我們逃不了的命運，
但「什麼是好的照護？」
我們以為，醫護人員給予病人越多的資訊、越詳盡的解釋、越透明的知情同意，醫病關係就越順暢，病人越能做出正確的決定，過著更理想的生活，但實情比這個還複雜。
過去，我們共同抵抗醫療霸權，擘畫出更多病人的主動性，但「選擇的邏輯」並沒有打造出對病人最適合的照護情境。在「選擇的邏輯」下，病人表達了意願，做出了選擇之後，一切就要自行負責，無論疾病多麼不可預期，日常多麼出乎意料，一旦事情出了差錯，病患只能抱持悔恨和罪惡感。
透過荷蘭某家醫院的民族誌田野觀察，作者以糖尿病患為研究對象，結合哲學、人類學、社會學等面向，提煉出「照護的邏輯」。照護不只是「溫柔的愛」，在這邏輯之下，「行動」先於「判斷」，「實作」先於「事實」，沒有什麼事情是被保證的，沒有什麼決定是做了就能心想事成的。病患、醫護人員、技術、儀器等各項元素在日常中不斷協調、不斷修補（doctoring），我們得持續堅定地做些嘗試。生活（名詞）的好壞不是重點，要點是如何「過生活」（動詞）。
照護的邏輯講求「關注」，在病患做了選擇之後，仍不斷地給予關注，才能彌補選擇之後，病患被施予的「忽略」。照護的邏輯期望病人主動積極，醫護人員實踐醫療專業更多的可能性。不過，不要超過極限，因為我們終究得（學會）放手，面對死亡。
作者長期蹲點荷蘭地區醫院，用人類學之眼，加上哲學思辨，凝視現代人的重要疾病——糖尿病，以此為觀察焦點，提出「照護的邏輯」之下的病患該如何自處，外人又該如何協助讓他們與疾病共存。這本書描繪一個理想的照護體系，適合醫護人員、政策制定者和社會科學愛好者作為思想的種子。
得獎紀錄
入圍二○一○年英國社會學協會（BSA）健康與疾病社會學書卷獎
專文推薦
陳俐伊（護理師、陽明科技與社會所碩士）
林文源（清華大學通識中心教授）
這本書會讓你看到，荷蘭健康照護人員做得最好的一面，這些醫護人員如何提供既嚴格又寬容的照護……呈現她們對道德主義的保留、善體人意的鼓勵，以及充滿創意的彈性調適。――安瑪莉•摩爾（本書作者）
近年來社會人文研究，有一些探索理想的新取向。無論是真實烏托邦、性別化創新，還是本書所談的「照顧的邏輯」，既能敏銳於學界批判的任務，也意圖建立一些新作法，很值得刺激本地討論。――吳嘉苓（台大社會系教授）
我認為本書是最重要的當代經典之一，對於反思醫療、科技與社會、哲學研究，甚至醫療實務工作都有相當幫助。――林文源（清華大學通識教育中心教授）
在臨床上，要想區分病人究竟是「不想做」還是「不能做」從來都不是一件容易的事情。可是透過摩爾的分析我們卻能清楚發現，唯有看見決策背後那緊密交織的顧慮及擔心，醫療人員才有辦法針對病人所面臨的困難，提出具體有效的解決方式。――陳俐伊（護理師、陽明大學科技與社會所碩士）

全球化与文化研究的经典著作
虽然目前有许多人著书谈论跨民族世界中的全球文化，然而没有人能像阿帕杜莱一样，既有全球性的视野，又熟谙人类学文献及其世界观。这部作品闪耀着智慧之光，对现代性与后现代性问题提出了深刻且令人满意的质问。
——谢里·奥特纳（Sherry Ortner），加州大学伯克利分校
阿尔君·阿帕杜莱是研究新制度主义所谓跨国公共领域的先锋的社会理论家……他取材多方，信手拈来——从自传性质的到高度理论的，从板球到统计学，从印度泰米尔纳德到美国硅谷。
——帕尔塔·查特吉（Partha Chatterjee），《民族主义思想与殖民地世界》作者
我希望能以人类学对文化维度的强调为全球化争论带来一个重要转向， 这一点在我作为区域研究学者所经受的训练和实践中得到进一步加强。
——阿尔君·阿帕杜莱
全球化或许意味着托马斯·弗里德曼所描述的“平坦世界”，麦克卢汉所构建的“地球村”，或者马丁·阿尔杜劳的“无国界世界”，而对印度裔人类学家阿尔君·阿帕杜莱而言，与其说全球化是不可逆转的世界潮流，不如说它建基于想象之上，并日益呈现出流离与散裂的面貌。
《消散的现代性》为全球 化的文化研究提出了全新的框架，它指出想象在今日世界具有现实的社会力量：不仅为身份认同提供了新的资源，也为创造民族-国家的替代方案提供了新的能量。作者审视了当今全球化时代——其特色是大众迁移与电子媒体的孪生力量，并对大众消费模式、多元文化主义论争与族群暴力提出了新的见解。

Based on John Dewey's lectures on esthetics, delivered as the first William James Lecturer at Harvard in 1932, Art as Experience has grown to be considered internationally as the most distinguished work ever written by an American on the formal structure and characteristic effects of all the arts: architecture, sculpture, painting, music, and literature.

本书是戛纳电影节金棕榈奖得主是枝裕和历时8年，写下的首部自传性随笔集。
是枝裕和在书中回顾三十余年的创作生涯，讲述每一部经典作品背后的传奇故事、缘起与理念，记录各个创作时期对电影的探索与思考，以及对世界和人生的看法。其中不仅汇集了电影大师的哲思与灵光，更讲述了一位导演脚踏实地，从赊账拍片到斩获世界各大电影节奖项的励志旅程。
本书在日本出版后，连续6次紧急加印，得到《朝日新闻》等各大媒体高度评价，更被盛赞道：哪怕再过100年，这本书也一定是创作者的圣经。世界如此精彩，日常就很美丽，生命本身就是奇迹。是枝裕和打动世界的所有理由，都在这本书里。

This highly acclaimed work, in which Pierre Bourdieu turns his attention to the academic world and offers a brilliant analysis of modern intellectual culture, is now available in paperback. The academy is shown to be not just a realm of dialogue and debate, but also a sphere of power in which reputations and careers are made, defended and destroyed.


Bourdieu constructs a map of the intellectual field in France and analyzes the forms of capital power, the lines of conflict and the patterns of change which characterize the system of higher education in France today.

媒体评论/
他广博的历史视野、深入分析的能力、清楚阐明问题的天赋，以及他伟大的幽默感和个人魅力，使他永远是一个广受欢迎的作家、评论家、顾问和发言人。
——欧立德
关于魏斐德广阔的知识、罕见的能力、伟大的谦逊，以及似乎毫不费力地把各种社会理论与原创性研究结合起来阐释广阔的历史和人文学的功底，我们所有有幸认识他的人都能讲出许多故事来。
——傅高义
他深刻而单纯，既是智者又是孩子。跟他在一起，会让人唤起一种对人类早年精神源头的乡愁。他笑起来如此纵情、毫无遮拦，如晴天霹雳，只有内心纯粹的人才会这样笑。我想正是他的博大、正直和宽容超越了学院生活的狭隘、晦暗与陈腐，超越个人的荣辱、爱憎与苦乐。
——北岛
内容介绍/
本书收录了魏斐德自上世纪90年代以来的所有重大演讲稿和访谈文稿。这些精辟的文字充分展示了这位伟大的历史学家对于中国历史的整体把握，也体现了他对中国历史的独特理解和认识。同时，本书可以作为进一步阅读魏斐德其他学术著作的津梁。本书绝大多数文字都是首次出现在中文世界中。演讲采访稿的文字风格，比其他著作更能为一般读者所接受。

“当我踏进模特经纪公司办公室的那一刻，就走进了一个充满伦理、政治、女性主义的研究困境。”曾在纽约和伦敦做过模特的社会学家阿什利·米尔斯，以内行人的视角展现了模特世界的规则，检视了人们习以为常的“美丽”是如何定义的。书中涉及对男模、女模、经纪人、客户、摄影师、造型师等角色的广泛访谈，展现了魅力产业背后的政治与经济，甚至随意性。在这条深藏不露的文化生产流水线上，好看不是唯一的标准，合适的外形才是时尚的起源，人们接受训练、推销、打造成珍贵的商品。该书对新文化经济中的社会分析，经济社会学中性别与阶层研究带来了新的启发。

A Turing Award-winning computer scientist and statistician shows how understanding causality has revolutionized science and will revolutionize artificial intelligence
“Correlation is not causation.” This mantra, chanted by scientists for more than a century, has led to a virtual prohibition on causal talk. Today, that taboo is dead. The causal revolution, instigated by Judea Pearl and his colleagues, has cut through a century of confusion and established causality–the study of cause and effect–on a firm scientific basis. His work explains how we can know easy things, like whether it was rain or a sprinkler that made a sidewalk wet; and how to answer hard questions, like whether a drug cured an illness. Pearl’s work enables us to know not just whether one thing causes another: it lets us explore the world that is and the worlds that could have been. It shows us the essence of human thought and key to artificial intelligence. Anyone who wants to understand either needs The Book of Why.

《我的真文字》是艺术家徐冰第一部个人艺术散文集，第一部分讲述徐冰自己的艺术创作成长过程，以及对艺术创作的思考。第二部分围绕十个重要作品，进行介绍和阐释。全书以清晰的脉络，完整、深入地表现了其艺术创作的才华和理念，不仅能让专业美术工作者系统了解这位具有国际影响力的中国艺术家的创作，也使得对当代艺术感兴趣的一般读者窥见当代艺术的基本面貌。文字朴素、生动，具有很强可读性。大量图片也增强了全书的视觉效果。

《超越再现:8世纪至14世纪中国书画》内容简介：一书所言的内容，是文人画“书画同体”观在艺术史上的精彩表现。我深信中国的艺术史，是不会有“终结”的。艺术史是我们“生活”的遗产。但我要问的是：为什么研究中国艺术史？西方文艺复兴艺术研究的大师——潘诺夫斯基(Erwin Panofsky)的成就，在于打通了西方艺术史与其文化与思想史。他的结论为：“以人为本”，是文艺复兴的一个基本的观念。

本书集结了安妮·普鲁短篇小说精华十一篇，其中多篇作品曾单独获奖，如《半剥皮的阉牛》入选《1988年最佳美国短篇小说集》和《二十世纪最佳美国短篇小说集》；《芳草天涯尽头》入选《1999年最佳美国短篇小说集》；《身居地狱但求杯水》入选《2000年最佳美国短篇小说集》。《断背山》不仅获1998年欧·亨利短篇小说奖和全美杂志奖，还被搬上银幕，一举夺得多项国际电影大奖。所有故事均以怀俄明州为背景，讲述了在蛮荒严酷、狂暴无常的自然环境中，农场人生活的艰辛、凶险、孤寂与奋争。作者用锐利的笔法剖开牛仔粗野狂放的生活方式背后的生命激情与渴望，用诗一般的语言从残酷和粗砺中淬出美和希望。

Originally published in 1971, this social science classic outlines the social functions of welfare programs.
"Uncompromising and provocative....By mixing history, political interpretation and sociological analysis, Piven and Cloward provide the best explanation to date of our present situation...no future discussion of welfare can afford to ignore them."

Reassembling the Social is a fundamental challenge from one of the world's leading social theorists to how we understand society and the 'social'. Bruno Latour's contention is that the word 'social' as used by Social Scientists has become laden with assumptions to the point where it has become a misnomer. When the adjective is applied to a phenomenon, it is used to indicate a stabilized state of affairs, a bundle of ties that in due course may be used to account for another phenomenon. Latour also finds the word used as if it described a type of material, in a comparable way to an adjective such as 'wooden' or 'steely'. Rather than simply indicating what is already assembled together, it is now used in a way that makes assumptions about the nature of what is assembled. It has become a word that designates two distinct things: a process of assembling: and a type of material, distinct from others. Latour shows why 'the social' cannot be thought of as a kind of material or domain, and disputes attempts to provide a 'social explanation' of other states of affairs. While these attempts have been productive (and probably necessary) in the past, the very success of the social sciences mean that they are largely no longer so. At the present stage it is no longer possible to inspect the precise constituents entering the social domain. Latour returns to the original meaning of 'the social' to redefine the notion and allow it to trace connections again. It will then be possible to resume the traditional goal of the social sciences, but using more refined tools. Drawing on his extensive work examining the 'assemblages' of nature, Latour finds it necessary to scrutinize thoroughly the exact content of what is assembled under the umbrella of Society. This approach, a 'sociology of associations' has become known as Actor-Network-Theory, and this book is an essential introduction both for those seeking to understand Actor-Network-Theory, or the ideas of one of its most influential proponents.