Technology and Social Theory

STEVE MATTHEWMAN is Senior Lecturer in Sociology, Department of Sociology, University of Auckland, New Zealand. He is an established writer and teacher in Sociology, with specific interests in science and technology, social theory, cultural studies and modernity and its discontents. His most recent publications include (with Bell) 'Cultural Studies in Aotearoa New Zealand: Identity, Space and Place (Oxford University Press, 2004) and 'Being Sociological' (Palgrave Macmillan, 2007).

• IntroductionTheorising TechnologyMarx, Modernity and the MachineConstructing the Modern: Human-Built WorldThe Politics of ArtefactsThe Social Construction of TechnologyThe Socio-Technical Construction of Society: Actor-Network TheoryLeft to Our Own Devices: Subjective MachinesObjective Life: Things and Social TheoryConclusion: We Have Always Been PosthumanBibliographyIndex.

'Matthewman's writing is clear, accessible and engaging and the text displays significant intellectual depth in providing such a rigorous, succinct and sophisticated analysis of a such wide body of literature. A useful addition to reading lists across STS, Sociology, Politics and Communications.' - David Mercer, Associate Professor, Convener of Science and Technology Studies, University of Wollongong, Australia 'A well informed and readable account of approaches to technology in sociological thought, organised in a clear and comprehensive way.' - Adrian Mackenzie, Lecturer in Sociology, Lancaster University, UK '...this book comes as a necessary and delightful addition ...[it] is a highly engaging, accessible text that is crucial for anyone writing and researching technology' - New Zealand Sociology 'Though aimed mainly at sociologists and other social scientists, this impressive book has much to offer theoretically curious historians of technology and their graduate students.' - Mark Shields, Technology and Culture