A tour of Western ideas of ideology . . . both as purpose-giving mental framework and ideology as false consciousness. Wise enough to see that these two facets can be distinguishable--some beliefs are just false--but that, ultimately, we're all shaped and motivated by beliefs that are essentially ideological--unprovable but nonetheless essential. ( )

A basic book on the subject, perhaps the basic one today, writen with the usual Eagleton flair. Especially interesting the analysis of the ambiguities of the marxian theory of ideology and of the subsequent misunterstandings among marxists ( )