Pierre Bourdieu: Key Concepts

Book Details:

• Author: Michael Grenfell

• Publisher:Rawat Publications

• Language: English

• Edition: 2022

• ISBN: 9788131604793

• Pages: 256

• Cover: Hardcover

• Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches

About the Book:
Pierre Bourdieu: Key Concepts provides a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the influential ideas of French social philosopher Pierre Bourdieu (1930–2002), one of the most impactful thinkers of the 20th century. Over a career spanning more than five decades, Bourdieu explored an extraordinary range of domains—education, art, culture, economics, politics, law, literature, and philosophy. Through this intellectual journey, he formulated a set of unique "thinking tools" designed to critically analyze the inner workings of modern society.

This volume, edited by Michael Grenfell, brings together a collection of essays that examine Bourdieu’s key concepts in depth. Each chapter is dedicated to one major concept such as Habitus, Field, Capital, Doxa, and Reflexivity, making this book ideal for both newcomers and seasoned scholars. While it serves as an entry point for students unfamiliar with Bourdieu's work, it also offers layered, analytical perspectives that deepen the understanding of his sociological framework.

Organized into four parts—covering Bourdieu's biography and theories, his field theory, the mechanisms and conditions of the field—the book facilitates both theoretical learning and practical application. It is an essential resource for students and researchers in sociology, anthropology, education, and cultural studies.

Contents:

Part I: Biography, Theory and Practice

1. Biography of Bourdieu – Michael Grenfell

2. Theory of Practice – Derek Robbins

Part II: Field Theory: Beyond Subjectivity and Objectivity
3. Habitus – Karl Maton
4. Field – Patricia Thomson

Part III: Field Mechanisms
5. Social Class – Nicholas Crossley
6. Capital – Robert Moore
7. Doxa – Cécile Deer
8. Hysteresis – Cheryl Hardy

Part IV: Field Conditions
9. Interest – Michael Grenfell
10. Conatus – Steve Fuller
11. Suffering – J. Daniel Schubert
12. Reflexivity – Cécile Deer

Conclusion – Michael Grenfell

About the Editor:
Michael Grenfell is Professor of Education and Director of Research at the University of Southampton. He is widely recognized for his scholarly work on Pierre Bourdieu and has published extensively in the fields of education and social theory.