Social Selves

′This is a foundational book, beautifully framed for this new century. The old theories of self and identity must be revisited in these times of global and cultural transformation. What kinds of selves are now available to us? Which theories best help us make sense out of who we are today. Burkitt brilliantly charts a path through this complex set of issues, and we owe him a huge debt for doing so′ - Norman K. Denzin, Distinguished Research Professor of Communications, Sociology and Humanities, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

′The first edition of this book brought difficult questions about selfhood together with equally awkward issues of power and the ′social′. Not since Mead or Goffman, perhaps, had this been attempted in such a useful way, and in such an assured and accessible text.

This completely reworked second edition retains all of these virtues, and takes the original analysis into new territory, not least with new chapters on gender and class.

If you′re interested in identity - particularly how identity ′works′ - this book is essential reading′ - Richard Jenkins, Professor of Sociology, Sheffield University

Ian Burkitt is in the Department of Social and Economic Studies, University of Bradford