Until recently, "continental" philosophy has been tied either to the German tradition of phenomenology or to French post-structuralist concerns with the conditions of language and textuality. Giorgio Agamben draws upon and departs from both these lines of thought by directing his entire corpus to the problem of life - political life, human life, animal life, and the life of art. Influenced by the work of Martin Heidegger, Walter Benjamin, and the broader tradition of critical Marxism, Agamben''s work poses the profound question for our time - just how exceptional are human beings?

This beautifully written book provides a systematic, engaging overview of Agamben''s writings on theology, aesthetics, political theory, and sovereignty. Covering the full range of Agamben''s work to date, Claire Colebrook and Jason Maxwell explain Agamben''s theology and philosophy by referring the concepts to some of today''s most urgent political and ethical problems. They focus on the audacious way in which Agamben reconceptualizes life itself. Assessing the significance of the concepts key to his work, such as biopolitics, sovereignty, the "state of exception," and "bare life," they demonstrate his wide-ranging influence across the humanities.

''The best introduction to Deleuze, and to the collective writings of Deleuze and Guattari, available yet! Claire Colebrook has produced a truly accessible pathway into the labyrinthine enchantments offered for contemporary thought by Deleuzianism, making concepts clear, showing their political and theoretical complexity, elaborating their social and artistic relevance. A wonderful, lucid opening onto the new worlds of Deleuze.''Elizabeth Grosz, Rutgers University''A wonderfully clear introduction to key Deleuzian concepts and to their effectiveness in fields ranging from ethics and politics to cinema, literary and cultural studies. Claire Colebrook provides a series of effortless transitions from Deleuze''s philosophical concerns (eg: difference, representation, desire and affect) to concrete problems in a variety of fields. This book is an excellent guide to an important body of critical thought.''Paul Patton, Professor of Philosophy, University of NSWA genuine attempt to think differently, Gilles Deleuze''s work challenges, provokes and frustrates. Surprisingly practical as well as innovative, it is now being seen as a ''must read'' for students and scholars across the humanities and social sciences. Claire Colebrook''s Understanding Deleuze offers a comprehensive and very accessible introduction to his work. hink differently. It is built on the notion of an immanent ethics: how can we have a political and ethical theory without some external foundation such as the subject or morality? He argues that the only way we can do this is with a theory of the virtual, and he sees all life (not just cyberculture) as virtual. Deleuze goes further than Foucault or Derrida in questioning the boundaries of the subject and knowledge. For Deleuze perception extends beyond the human, to animals, machines and microorganisms.Deleuze''s writing is challenging and hard to read, and so far there is no introduction to his work. Claire Colebrook''s primer offers an accessible introduction to the whole Deleuzian oeuvre, including the work he did with Guattari.

''The best introduction to Deleuze, and to the collective writings of Deleuze and Guattari, available yet! Claire Colebrook has produced a truly accessible pathway into the labyrinthine enchantments offered for contemporary thought by Deleuzianism, making concepts clear, showing their political and theoretical complexity, elaborating their social and artistic relevance. A wonderful, lucid opening onto the new worlds of Deleuze.''Elizabeth Grosz, Rutgers University''A wonderfully clear introduction to key Deleuzian concepts and to their effectiveness in fields ranging from ethics and politics to cinema, literary and cultural studies. Claire Colebrook provides a series of effortless transitions from Deleuze''s philosophical concerns (eg: difference, representation, desire and affect) to concrete problems in a variety of fields. This book is an excellent guide to an important body of critical thought.''Paul Patton, Professor of Philosophy, University of NSWA genuine attempt to think differently, Gilles Deleuze''s work challenges, provokes and frustrates. Surprisingly practical as well as innovative, it is now being seen as a ''must read'' for students and scholars across the humanities and social sciences. Claire Colebrook''s Understanding Deleuze offers a comprehensive and very accessible introduction to his work. hink differently. It is built on the notion of an immanent ethics: how can we have a political and ethical theory without some external foundation such as the subject or morality? He argues that the only way we can do this is with a theory of the virtual, and he sees all life (not just cyberculture) as virtual. Deleuze goes further than Foucault or Derrida in questioning the boundaries of the subject and knowledge. For Deleuze perception extends beyond the human, to animals, machines and microorganisms.Deleuze''s writing is challenging and hard to read, and so far there is no introduction to his work. Claire Colebrook''s primer offers an accessible introduction to the whole Deleuzian oeuvre, including the work he did with Guattari.

Until recently, "continental" philosophy has been tied either to the German tradition of phenomenology or to French post-structuralist concerns with the conditions of language and textuality. Giorgio Agamben draws upon and departs from both these lines of thought by directing his entire corpus to the problem of life - political life, human life, animal life, and the life of art. Influenced by the work of Martin Heidegger, Walter Benjamin, and the broader tradition of critical Marxism, Agamben''s work poses the profound question for our time - just how exceptional are human beings?

This beautifully written book provides a systematic, engaging overview of Agamben''s writings on theology, aesthetics, political theory, and sovereignty. Covering the full range of Agamben''s work to date, Claire Colebrook and Jason Maxwell explain Agamben''s theology and philosophy by referring the concepts to some of today''s most urgent political and ethical problems. They focus on the audacious way in which Agamben reconceptualizes life itself. Assessing the significance of the concepts key to his work, such as biopolitics, sovereignty, the "state of exception," and "bare life," they demonstrate his wide-ranging influence across the humanities.

''The best introduction to Deleuze, and to the collective writings of Deleuze and Guattari, available yet! Claire Colebrook has produced a truly accessible pathway into the labyrinthine enchantments offered for contemporary thought by Deleuzianism, making concepts clear, showing their political and theoretical complexity, elaborating their social and artistic relevance. A wonderful, lucid opening onto the new worlds of Deleuze.''Elizabeth Grosz, Rutgers University''A wonderfully clear introduction to key Deleuzian concepts and to their effectiveness in fields ranging from ethics and politics to cinema, literary and cultural studies. Claire Colebrook provides a series of effortless transitions from Deleuze''s philosophical concerns (eg: difference, representation, desire and affect) to concrete problems in a variety of fields. This book is an excellent guide to an important body of critical thought.''Paul Patton, Professor of Philosophy, University of NSWA genuine attempt to think differently, Gilles Deleuze''s work challenges, provokes and frustrates. Surprisingly practical as well as innovative, it is now being seen as a ''must read'' for students and scholars across the humanities and social sciences. Claire Colebrook''s Understanding Deleuze offers a comprehensive and very accessible introduction to his work. hink differently. It is built on the notion of an immanent ethics: how can we have a political and ethical theory without some external foundation such as the subject or morality? He argues that the only way we can do this is with a theory of the virtual, and he sees all life (not just cyberculture) as virtual. Deleuze goes further than Foucault or Derrida in questioning the boundaries of the subject and knowledge. For Deleuze perception extends beyond the human, to animals, machines and microorganisms.Deleuze''s writing is challenging and hard to read, and so far there is no introduction to his work. Claire Colebrook''s primer offers an accessible introduction to the whole Deleuzian oeuvre, including the work he did with Guattari.

''The best introduction to Deleuze, and to the collective writings of Deleuze and Guattari, available yet! Claire Colebrook has produced a truly accessible pathway into the labyrinthine enchantments offered for contemporary thought by Deleuzianism, making concepts clear, showing their political and theoretical complexity, elaborating their social and artistic relevance. A wonderful, lucid opening onto the new worlds of Deleuze.''Elizabeth Grosz, Rutgers University''A wonderfully clear introduction to key Deleuzian concepts and to their effectiveness in fields ranging from ethics and politics to cinema, literary and cultural studies. Claire Colebrook provides a series of effortless transitions from Deleuze''s philosophical concerns (eg: difference, representation, desire and affect) to concrete problems in a variety of fields. This book is an excellent guide to an important body of critical thought.''Paul Patton, Professor of Philosophy, University of NSWA genuine attempt to think differently, Gilles Deleuze''s work challenges, provokes and frustrates. Surprisingly practical as well as innovative, it is now being seen as a ''must read'' for students and scholars across the humanities and social sciences. Claire Colebrook''s Understanding Deleuze offers a comprehensive and very accessible introduction to his work. hink differently. It is built on the notion of an immanent ethics: how can we have a political and ethical theory without some external foundation such as the subject or morality? He argues that the only way we can do this is with a theory of the virtual, and he sees all life (not just cyberculture) as virtual. Deleuze goes further than Foucault or Derrida in questioning the boundaries of the subject and knowledge. For Deleuze perception extends beyond the human, to animals, machines and microorganisms.Deleuze''s writing is challenging and hard to read, and so far there is no introduction to his work. Claire Colebrook''s primer offers an accessible introduction to the whole Deleuzian oeuvre, including the work he did with Guattari.