Precarious Life: The Power of Mourning and Violence

Rating:
Summary: Nothing new
Review: I had much anticipation of Butler's _Precarious Lives_ considering her position as one of the foremost cultural and literary theorists. However, I was highly disappointed that the arguments she makes in the text are no greater than those of most academics, including those of grad students. I'd wait for the paperback edition and buy it used as it is somewhat useful for citations. Other than that, the argument is really over-stated these days and seems like much less than what one could or "should" expect from Butler.

Rating:
Summary: The only Judith Butler book
Review: I thought Precarious Life was great. Her previous work always sounded like a dreary parody of "postmodern criticism" to me, and I couldn't be bothered trying to slog through any of it. She's obviously going for a wider audience with this new one. It's working.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent social commentary
Review: Judith Butler is a multi-talented scholar who can write for both specialized and general audiences (which is why many, I believe, envy her). This book is quite accessible and rightly so; it is concerned with the contemporary predicaments we are currently in at this point in history. An extremely important book, Butler's "Precarious Life" has much to offer.

Rating:
Summary: Another Other
Review: Judith Butler is out of her depth in her discussions of Israel,
and (the new) anti-semitism.Readers searching for understanding of post-9/11 politics will encounter lopsided arguments here.