Culture is Terry Eagleton's discussion of what culture is, what it isn't and what it shouldn't be. In true Eagleton fashion he will make the reader chuckle then just as quickly start fuming. That has always been his strength, his ability to express his opinions clearly while pricking the skin of those he would argue against so that reading him becomes an active engagement whether you want it to be or not.

When I used to use his Literary Theory: An Introduction to teach I found his ability to explain theories to which he did not subscribe well balanced and even when he interjected his views he did so fairly. I find that lacking in this book. Partly, I'm sure, because this is not meant to explain various schools of thought but to grapple with a concept from his own. Yet he sets up some thought, particularly postmodernism (or at least the aspects which adopt any form of relativism), as borderline stupid. Most people who embrace some form of cultural relativism do not practice the extreme version he argues against. This serves to make one whole chapter and parts of every other pointless strawman arguments. I expected better from someone for whom I have such high regard.

That grudge he seems to have with someone or something in his past which makes him irrational when writing about postmodernism does not detract from a lot of what he has to say. The distinctions he makes and the ways in which he demonstrates the various definitions and, more importantly, uses of culture are spot on for the most part. These portions of the book are reminiscent of his better works on ideology, aesthetics and theory in general.

I would recommend this to anyone interested in cultural and literary theory, capitalism and Marxist theory as it applies to culture. Eagleton never fails to engage the reader regardless of the degree of agreement.

Reviewed from a copy made available through Goodreads First Reads. ( )