Is there a place for personal beliefs in public life? Frank Brennan tackles these issues head on, and looks at some of the legal, moral and ethical issues currently capturing the publics' imagination.

Examines the ways in which television has transformed public discourse--in politics, education, religion, science, and elsewhere--into a form of entertainment that undermines exposition, explanation and knowledge, in a special anniver

"Getting real" is the next big thing in Western living - the determined rejection of the fake, the virtual, the spun and the mass-produced, in the search for authenticity. This book explains where our reactions against spin

From Batman to motor bikes, pop stars to internet pornography, this title examines the range of aesthetic criteria that goes into judging mass culture's most celebrated texts and objects. It contains twelve essays that are a

Presenting the state of Western culture, from politics and the media to show business and science, this book concludes we are Big Babies. It argues that a Baby-Boom generation is running the show, and its own commitment to p

Responding to cultural controversies, and tackling subjects like Terri Schiavo, "The Passion of the Christ", and Michael Jackson, "South Park" examines the popular culture in America - and television's role in the creation o

In many countries, internet censorship has become one of the key human rights issues of the twenty-first century.Best-selling author Antony Loewenstein conducts a searching examination of the ways the internet is thr

Provides an understanding of the role of blogs in the contemporary media landscape. This collection of essays takes a look at how blogs are reshaping culture, media, and politics. It also includes studies of the blogosphere,

Why is Western humanity, richer and safer than ever before, also fatter, sadder and more fearful? Blubberland is a witty and engaging critique of the way we live now. Leading architecture critic and writer Elizabeth Farrelly

Examines the social, historical, economic and psychological ways in which brands have gripped our society.

02 Children on Demand examines the ethics of various forms of alternative parenthood, focusing specifically on adoption and assisted reproductive technologies, and the moral dilemmas they create for both individ

Traces the controversial record of mercy-killing, a source of heated debate among doctors and laypeople alike. This book examines evolving opinions about what constitutes a good death, taking into account the societal and re

An evocative symbol of the 1960s was its youth counterculture. This study reveals that the youthful revolutionaries were augmented by such unlikely allies as the advertising industry and the men's clothing business. The ad i

Why do people work hard, and take pride in what they do? This book, a philosophically-minded enquiry into practical activity of many different kinds past and present, is about what happens when people try to do a good job. It

Adopting a fresh perspective on how technology influences business and society, this work presents a vision for a different scientific understanding of human nature and identity. It also takes us through the historical origin

Exposing the grave consequences of the digital media, this book aims to reveal how an avalanche of amateur content threatens our values, economy, and innovation and creativity. It urges us to consider the consequences of sup

This book explores the common characteristics of the communal celebrations displayed by cultures from all parts of the world and throughout history. Ehrenreich uncovers the origins of communal celebration in human biol

Offers a glimpse into the world of newspaper journalism. This book shows how a newspaper moves from being empty at the start of the day to being full twelve hours later, puts readers in the shoes of a journalist on the news-

This is the most comprehensive and contemporary book ever written on the cultural influences of the drug that changed the world.The first book of its kind, "E, the Incredibly Strange History of Ecstasy" examines every aspect

A scholarly collection on what has become a global social, cultural and economic phenomenon: eBay. With its focus on both the form and the content of eBay from a humanities and cultural studies perspective, this book provide

Tune in, turn on and get smarter. "The Simpsons", "Desperate Housewives", "The Apprentice", "The Sopranos", "Grand Theft Auto": We're constantly being told that popular culture is just mindless entertainment. But, as Steven

Facebook is the social networking site that has taken first undergrads, then high schoolers, and finally the rest of the world by storm since its 2004 launch at Harvard by then-undergrad Mark Zuckerberg. "The Faceboo

Illustrates the central role that fear has played and continues to play in the wielding of power, particularly in politics and the workplace.

Chernobyl and Katrina. C"hallenger "and "Columbia,"" "BP and Vioxx. The Iraq War. Were these unavoidable misfortunes that no one could possibly have imagined? Hardly. All of them were disasters that could have been pr

Written in the wake of May 1968 and Deleuze and Guattari's "Anti-Oedipus", this book offers a scathing view of sex manuals for children and society's hypocrisy of over sex that argues for the rights of children to th

Traces changing conceptions of sin through history and analyzes the role that sin, and our understanding of it, plays society.

'Ayse Onal has done an immense service by revealing what it is like to live in an honour-based society and the terrible cost, not just to the women who are beaten and eventually killed, but to the perpetrators and ot

There are still a few things money can't buy. Love is one, cool is another. The good news is that cool is not inherent, it's a code, and the code can be cracked. This book is a savvy and accessible guide to helping anyone,

Noted sociologist Michael Mann argues that the new American imperialism is actually a new militarism that will bring disaster to the US and the world.

The rise of the information society offers not only considerable peril but also great promise. Beset from all sides by a never-ending barrage of media, how can we ensure that the most accurate information emerges and

Explores the ancient roots of sleeplessness in classics such as the Mesopotamian epic, "Gilgamesh", the "Iliad" and "Odyssey", the "Aeneid" and the Bible, as well as customs surrounding sleep and waking in Asian culture. This

An enlightening and entertaining account of the unique relationship between humans and their pets. It offers a delightful insight into animal and human thinking and feeling. An essential companion for all dog lovers!

Narrative therapy is one of the most commonly practised forms of therapy. Each chapter in this book provides an overview of a main area of narrative therapy by explaining how it works and detailing the psychotherapeutic impli

Contains interviews on an assortment of people in the worlds of politics, society, art, sport, music and architecture.

Takes us on a tour of our media-drunk society, covering from oral sex in the Oval Office to cowboy politics, from Homer Simpson to O J Simpson, from Princess Diana's funeral to the aftermath of September 11, from reality TV

In the early decades of the twentieth century Modernist artists, composers, and writers barraged European sensibilities with chaotic images, dissonant sounds, and incomprehensible novels. Picasso's Les Desmoisell

Meet the youth of today's Middle East, cool, sexy, and devout. Faced with her own quarter-life crisis, Allegra Stratton takes herself out of her comfort zone to meet the young men and women of Beirut, Amman, Cairo, Dubai, Kuwait and D

Examines the role of Muslims in the news media, particularly within a climate of threat, fear and misunderstanding. Exploring the circumstances and politics surrounding the representation of Muslims across a range of journal

02 A compelling, honest, intriguing and anonymous collection of memoirs about one of our seven deadliest sins: adultery. 03 'It's one of the oldest stories in the world. It's in Shakepeare, the Bible, literature of every

Surveys the landscape of American television.

Originally published 25 years ago 'Orientalism' is an influential book of ideas. Edward Said surveys the history and nature of Western attitudes towards the East. For generations now this book has defined our understa

Puts forward a different idea - namely that it is the pagan god Odin and not Christ who is the single most important spiritual influence in weste