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Pierre Bourdieu

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Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste (Routledge Classics) Paperback – 12 Mar. 2010

by Pierre Bourdieu (Author)

4.5 158 ratings

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No judgement of taste is innocent - we are all snobs. Pierre Bourdieu’s Distinction brilliantly illuminates the social pretentions of the middle classes in the modern world, focusing on the tastes and preferences of the French bourgeoisie. First published in 1979, the book is at once a vast ethnography of contemporary France and a dissection of the bourgeois mind.

In the course of everyday life we constantly choose between what we find aesthetically pleasing, and what we consider tacky, merely trendy, or ugly. Taste is not pure. Bourdieu demonstrates that our different aesthetic choices are all distinctions - that is, choices made in opposition to those made by other classes. This fascinating work argues that the social world functions simultaneously as a system of power relations and as a symbolic system in which minute distinctions of taste become the basis for social judgement.

ISBN-10

0415567882
ISBN-13

978-0415567886
Edition

1st
Publication date

12 Mar. 2010
Language

English
Dimensions

13.79 x 3.68 x 21.59 cm
Print length

640 pages
See all details

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Product description

Review

'In this rich and probing guide to the strategies of pretension in contemporary France, Bourdieu describes how class segments separate from each other by their contrasting attitudes towards art and beauty.' The Observer

'Full of insights of fundamental importance.' Tom Gretton, Oxford Art Journal

'Brilliant insights ... richly informative and insightful.' Barry King, Reviewing Sociology

'In this rich and probing guide to the strategies of pretension in contemporary France, Bourdieu describes how class segments separate from each other by their contrasting attitudes towards art and beauty.' - The Observer

From the Back Cover

Illuminates the social pretentions of the middle classes in the modern world, focusing on the tastes and preferences of the French bourgeoisie. This book argues that the social world functions simultaneously as a system of power relations and as a symbolic system in which minute distinctions of taste become the basis for social judgement.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Routledge; 1st edition (12 Mar. 2010)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 640 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0415567882
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0415567886
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13.79 x 3.68 x 21.59 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 19,846 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 4 in Academic Sociology
- 17 in Philosophical Aesthetics
- 93 in Social & Cultural Anthropology

Customer reviews:
4.5 158 ratings

About the author

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Pierre Bourdieu

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Pierre Bourdieu (1930–2002) was one of the most influential social scientists of the twentieth century. A professor of sociology at the Collège de France, he is the author of thirty-six books, including Distinction, named one of the twentieth century’s ten most important works of sociology.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5

158 global ratings

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Maribor

well made

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 February 2013

Verified Purchase

bought as a gift, for someone who specifically wanted to read it.

As I haven't read it myself yet, I've been asked for a review, and I feel I should make an attempt.

It's neatly cut, with good quality paper of exactly the right thinness. You know the sort; pages that are supple and nestle snugly against one other. You can tell by its weight that the writing inside is substantial and nutty; the book came out at eight hundred and sixty four grams, of which I calculate only two hundred or so are the paper. I would imagine that this indicates a really good read, with the promise insights of fundamental importance.

The corner at the very top right hand side of the cover has bent up slightly, but it's a paperback after all, and I think that's acceptable, given the extra weight and price of a hardback version. All in all, a good quality product that can be re-used time and again, and will remain on our bookshelf, adding, ahem, distinction to the spine display.

9 people found this helpful

Helpful

So many books, so little time

a master piece

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 April 2012

Verified Purchase

This book is a unique piece of sociological literature. I am not a big fan of french thinkers, but this books allows a deep knowledge of the sociology of taste. I still find the style of the author difficult to read, but the knowledge that you can get with this book deserves a careful read.

5 people found this helpful

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Christiane

Bourdieu is a phenomenal theorist. Essential reading.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 October 2020

Verified Purchase

Essential for anyone studying social theory, and so applicable to contemporary society.

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alex zeeuw

Extremely interesting

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 September 2013

Verified Purchase

A classical sociological reading. However, it is very difficult and you might want to search for interpretations of different authors as well, to come to an understanding of the theories Bourdieu presents in this book. Overall it is well worth it because of the significance in the field of sociology and for those interested in art it seems like a worthy recommendation as well!

Helpful

maximiliano gil

A Classic in sociology of elites.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 November 2017

Verified Purchase

A classic in sociology of elites. A must read book for those interested in the process of the definition of taste, class and distinction. Habitus and campus are always present in Bourdieu's writings.

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M. G. Sangster

A classical text from a master social scientist

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 November 2018

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A classical study in sociology that combines method and theory in an exemplary way.

One person found this helpful

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eli

great book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 November 2019

Verified Purchase

a great book written by a genius

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Thomas

The print quality is very poor

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 July 2022

Verified Purchase

This book, like many others, is reprinted by Amazon, which they don't tell you until you receive the book. The print quality is very poor. The plastic on the lid comes off very quickly. Amazon should explicitly say which books are reprinted by them!

One person found this helpful

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