Les Back is Professor of Sociology at Goldsmiths College, University of London. He is a co-editor of The Auditory Culture Reader.

This is a wise and humane piece of writing, concerned to break out of sociology's academic straitjacket and speak to a wide audience. Stuart Sim, New Humanist The Art of Listening is a rare book in its commitment to vitalize an ethical, global sociology for the twenty-first century. Students are encouraging their parents to read it. Everyone needs this book -- especially jaded academics. Sanjay Sharma, British Journal of Sociology A sparkling, thought-provoking book that challenges many of our assumptions as researchers and students David Bissell, University of Brighton Back has shown us how to produce an applied sociology to examine the everyday and see how it is actually constructed. Andy T. Hanson, Lancaster University His book provides clear examples of his principles that should be interesting and useful to those of us who work in communities. Michele Sexton, Community Development

• Speaking of Remarkable Things * Lines of Hate, Colours of Memory * Falling From the Sky * Concrete Screens and the Urban Uncanny * Listening with our Eyes * Inscriptions of Love * Curiosity at its Limit * Conclusion: Shelf Life * Postscript: Dancing and Wrestling with Scholarship

Les Back is Professor of Sociology at Goldsmiths College, University of London. He is a co-editor of The Auditory Culture Reader.

This is a wise and humane piece of writing, concerned to break out of sociology's academic straitjacket and speak to a wide audience. Stuart Sim, New Humanist The Art of Listening is a rare book in its commitment to vitalize an ethical, global sociology for the twenty-first century. Students are encouraging their parents to read it. Everyone needs this book -- especially jaded academics. Sanjay Sharma, British Journal of Sociology A sparkling, thought-provoking book that challenges many of our assumptions as researchers and students David Bissell, University of Brighton Back has shown us how to produce an applied sociology to examine the everyday and see how it is actually constructed. Andy T. Hanson, Lancaster University His book provides clear examples of his principles that should be interesting and useful to those of us who work in communities. Michele Sexton, Community Development

• Speaking of Remarkable Things * Lines of Hate, Colours of Memory * Falling From the Sky * Concrete Screens and the Urban Uncanny * Listening with our Eyes * Inscriptions of Love * Curiosity at its Limit * Conclusion: Shelf Life * Postscript: Dancing and Wrestling with Scholarship

Les Back is Professor of Sociology at Goldsmiths College, University of London. He is a co-editor of The Auditory Culture Reader.

This is a wise and humane piece of writing, concerned to break out of sociology's academic straitjacket and speak to a wide audience. Stuart Sim, New Humanist The Art of Listening is a rare book in its commitment to vitalize an ethical, global sociology for the twenty-first century. Students are encouraging their parents to read it. Everyone needs this book -- especially jaded academics. Sanjay Sharma, British Journal of Sociology A sparkling, thought-provoking book that challenges many of our assumptions as researchers and students David Bissell, University of Brighton Back has shown us how to produce an applied sociology to examine the everyday and see how it is actually constructed. Andy T. Hanson, Lancaster University His book provides clear examples of his principles that should be interesting and useful to those of us who work in communities. Michele Sexton, Community Development

• Speaking of Remarkable Things * Lines of Hate, Colours of Memory * Falling From the Sky * Concrete Screens and the Urban Uncanny * Listening with our Eyes * Inscriptions of Love * Curiosity at its Limit * Conclusion: Shelf Life * Postscript: Dancing and Wrestling with Scholarship