"The Theory Toolbox is original and unusual, breaking the standard mold of social theory textbooks. It
puts itself in the young theory student's shoes and imagines what s/he needs to know, and how best to convey difficult
material. A distinctive feature of this book is its interdisciplinarity, borrowing concepts from humanities disciplines
in order to enrich social and sociological theory. My theory students will definitely need this path-breaking book
in their toolboxes."
--Ben Agger, University of Texas, Arlington,
"Always readable, often funny and frequently profound, Nealon and Giroux tackle the most difficult and timely
topics in theory with aplomb. An entire education in one tidy package. Students will find it invaluable, and advanced
scholars will read it under the covers at night."
--John McGowan, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
"From their opening engagement with the punk song 'Why Theory?,' Nealon and Searls Giroux perform an impassioned
and compelling argument for the productive work of theory as a crucial social action. As the title suggests, The
Theory Toolbox, instead of simply reviewing schools of theory and criticism, aims to help students figure out what
they can do with theoretical concepts as tools for living. Organized to provide a productive immersion in key concepts
such as agency and ideology, The Theory Toolbox engenders pragmatic encounters with theorists from Nietzsche to
Deleuze. Through pertinent political and social examples, Nealon and Searls Giroux succeed in demonstrating why
theory matters and, most remarkably, why postmodern theory matters in everyday life. In succeeding, they make a
critical intervention in undergraduate education and in wider debates over theory and practice. This book should
be required reading for all students desiring to become thinking citizens."
--Kevin DeLuca, University of Georgia
Publisher Web Site, November, 2003
Summary
This text involves students in understanding and using the "tools" of critical social and literary
theory the first day of class. It is an ideal first introduction before students encounter more difficult readings
from critical and postmodern perspectives.
Nealon and Searls describe key concepts and illuminate each with an engaging inquiry that asks students to consider
deeper and deeper questions. Written in students' own idiom, and drawing its examples from the social world, literature,
popular culture, and advertising, The Theory Toolbox offers students the language and opportunity to theorize rather
than positioning them to respond to theory as a reified history of various schools of thought. Clear and engaging,
it avoids facile description, inviting students to struggle with ideas and the world by virtue of the book's relentless
challenge to common assumptions and its appeal to common sense.
Special Features:
The most clearly written and concise introduction to literary and critical social theory available.
Better integration than other texts of social, cultural, and literary theory.
Organized around key tools of criticism and concepts rather than literary movements. Key concepts include:
race, gender, sexuality, power, difference, reading, author, meaning, culture, history, postmodernism, postcolonialism,
space, time.
Strong integration of popular culure and mass media with literary and social criticism.
Excellent brief intro to assign alongside the Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism.
Further Readings for each concept serve as a guide to the literature for instructors and students.
"Working Questions" throughout the text involve students immediately in meaningful inquiry.
