The Social Self by Ian Burkitt Publisher: Shanghai Literature and Art Publishing House

Introduction
"The Social Self" deeply explores the concept of "self", using the thickness of a book to respond to the meta-question "Who am I?" Burkitt places the self, individual, and identity in a series of perspectives such as social activities, backgrounds, and relationships. Through the dimensions of ethics, performance, gender, and class, he repeatedly examines the connotation and extension of philosophical and sociological concepts such as self and identity/identification. This book wanders between the genealogies of thinkers such as Hegel, Bakhtin, Freud, Lane, Bourdieu, Foucault, Butler, and Giddens, and quotes classics to analyze the concept of "self" which is complex, chaotic, and ever-changing. In addition, the author also re-examines "self" in the new context of new media, globalization, and cultural transformation. This book is undoubtedly the best guide for us to explore the possibilities, complexity, modernity, and unknowability in ourselves.
Not since Mead and Goffman has anyone attempted to explore this question with such effective perspective and in such convincing yet accessible language... This completely rewritten edition retains all the advantages of its predecessor and extends the original analysis into new areas... If you are interested in the issue of identity - especially how identity "works" - then this book is undoubtedly a must-read core book.
—Richard Jenkins, Professor of Sociology, University of Sheffield
This is a foundational book written with great care for the new century. In this book, the old theories about self and identity are re-explored in the new era of globalization and cultural transformation. What types of self do we have now? What theories can help us recognize our self today? Burkitt's book really clears the clouds and brings a lot of benefits to people.
—Norman K. Denzin, Distinguished Research Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
About the Author
About the Author
Ian Burkitt is Professor Emeritus of Sociology and Criminology at the University of Bradford, UK. His main research areas are social relations and identity. His published works include Bodies of Thought (1999), The Social Self (2nd Edition) (2008), and Emotions and Social Relations (2014).
About the Translator
Li Kang graduated from Fudan University and Peking University. He is currently a professor at the Department of Sociology at Peking University and a winner of the Teaching Excellence Award. He was a visiting scholar at Harvard University and Oxford University for one year respectively. He has translated 30 books in the fields of Western sociological theory, cultural sociology, and historical sociology, totaling 15 million words.