Precarious Life

The Power of Mourning and Violence

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Judith Butler: Precarious Life (Hardcover, 2004, Verso)

Hardcover, 160 pages

English language

Published May 6, 2004 by Verso.

ISBN:
978-1-84467-005-5
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5 stars (2 reviews)

2 editions

Review of 'Precarious Life' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

One of the reviews on the back of this book describes it as one of Butler's most accessible. I agree.

It was an easy and relatively quick read with a lot of insight into the "War on Terror," in the U.S., Middle East, and Guantanamo Bay. I especially liked the middle (and longest) essay for its explanation of a lot of Foucault's ideas around sovereignty and governmentality, set around the case study of indefinite detention.

The book didn't contain as much about "precarity" as I was hoping. It's an intriguing concept on its own and I didn't really feel like the book's title fit, except kind of in the last essay.

I'm looking forward to reading Frames of War!

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5 stars

Subjects

  • Anthropology
  • Cultural studies
  • Violence in Society
  • Violence
  • Political aspects
  • U.S. Foreign Relations
  • Violence (Sociological Aspects)
  • Political Science
  • Sociology
  • United States
  • Politics/International Relations
  • USA
  • Political Freedom & Security - Terrorism
  • Moral and ethical aspects
  • War on Terrorism, 2001-
  • History & Theory - General
  • International Relations - General
  • Nationalism