"Anthony Giddens is one of the most famous and influential sociologists of recent decades. Largely credited with the concept of the "Third Way", he continues to be a key advisor to Tony Blair ... This original and controversial book provides an excellent introduction to Giddens' work, covering the wide range of his writing from theory to self-reflexivity, modernity and politics, placing them all within the illuminating framework of a historical context. Steven Loyal argues that Giddens' writing has always embodied a political and ethical position, one that has changed considerably over the years and is best understood through the social context in which it was written. Providing a comprehensive overview of Giddens' writing, Loyal explores the many tensions and failures in Giddens' theory and argues that, overall, his work is fundamentally flawed."--Book cover.