Over the last three decades, the French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu has produced one of the most imaginative and subtle bodies of social theory and research of the post war era. Yet, despite the influence of his work, no single introduction to his wide-ranging "oeuvre" is available. This book, intended for an English-speaking audience, offers a systematic and accessible overview, providing interpretive keys to the internal logic of Bourdieu's work by explicating thematic and methodological principles underlying his work. The structure of Bourdieu's theory of knowledge, practice, and society is first dissected by Loï c Wacquant; he then collaborates with Bourdieu in a dialogue in which they discuss central concepts of Bourdieu's work, confront the main objections and criticisms his work has met, and outline Bourdieu's views of the relation of sociology to philosophy, economics, history, and politics. The final section captures Bourdieu in action in the seminar room as he addresses the topic of how to practice the craft of reflexive sociology. Throughout, they stress Bourdieu's emphasis on reflexivity--his inclusion of a theory of intellectual practice as an integral component of a theory of society--and on method--particularly his manner of posing problems that permits a transfer of knowledge from one area of inquiry into another. Amplified by notes and an extensive bibliography, this synthetic view is essential reading for both students and advanced scholars. Pierre Bourdieu is Professor of Sociology at the Collè ge de France. Loï c J. D. Wacquant is a Junior Fellow, Society of Fellows, Harvard University.

皮埃爾·布迪厄是法國當代著名社會學傢。1954年畢業於巴黎高等師範學院。1960年在巴黎大學人文學院擔任助教，曾擔任阿隆的助手。後在裏爾大學任教3年。從1968年起，但任歐洲社會學中心主任至今。1982年成為法蘭西學院唯一的一名社會學教授。主要著作包括：《實踐理論大綱》、《區隔》、《教育、社會和文化的再生産》、《學術人》、《實踐的邏輯》、《換句話說》、《語言與符號暴力》以及《悲慘世界》等。

華康德是美國加州大學伯剋利分校教授。同時也在布迪厄主持的歐洲社會學中心從事研究工作，他現在是英語世界中介紹布迪厄理論最不遺餘力的一位學者。他本人則通過對黑人拳擊手的經驗研究去應用和發展布迪厄的理論。