Politics of the Book: A Study on the Materiality of Ideas

Filipe Carreira da Silva and Mónica Brito Vieira's study explores how the form of a book mediates and constitutes meaning, affecting its substance, appropriation, and reception over time. They show that classic works of social and political thought involved many hands, and the editorial process is a meaning-producing action that involves collaboration and a battle for the importance of the book form. The book radically changes our understanding of what doing social and political theory—and its history—implies.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 272 pages
\n Publication date: 07 July 2021
\n Publisher: Pennsylvania State University Press
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Filipe Carreira da Silva and Mónica Brito Vieira delve into the intricate relationship between a book's content and its form in their groundbreaking study, "The Politics of the Book." Through a comprehensive examination of classic works of social and political thought, including W. E. B. Du Bois's "The Souls of Black Folk," G. H. Mead's "Mind, Self, and Society," and Karl Marx's "Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts," they shed light on the multifaceted processes involved in their creation and dissemination.

Carreira da Silva and Brito Vieira reveal that the editorial process of these books was a collaborative endeavor involving publishers, editors, translators, and commentators. They explore the various ways in which these individuals contribute to shaping the reading public's understanding of the works, engage in debates about their intended meanings, and assess their relevance in contemporary times. They also elucidate the profound interconnection between content and material form, emphasizing how the editorial process intertwines with the struggle for the book form's significance in the disciplinary identity, ideological positioning, and political impact of a work.

The Politics of the Book is a theoretically sophisticated and meticulously researched work that challenges our conventional understanding of social and political theory and its historical development. It offers a fresh perspective on the role of the book in shaping the intellectual landscape, providing valuable insights into the complex processes of meaning production and the enduring significance of the book form in the realm of social and political thought.

This study will appeal to scholars of book history, the history of social and political thought, and social and political theory, as it provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to understanding the politics of the book. By exploring the interplay between content and form, Carreira da Silva and Brito Vieira offer a valuable contribution to our understanding of the past, present, and future of social and political scholarship.

\n Weight: 438g\n
Dimension: 238 x 230 x 21 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780271083438\n \n