本书由三个部分组成，第一部分是诠释性的，它通过勾勒出布迪厄有关知识、实践和社会的理论结构及其学术图景的轮廓，向人们展示了布迪厄著作的广博体系和内在理路；第二部分是分析性的，主要是在芝加哥大学研讨班所展开的精心构思的对话内容，在这一部分，布迪厄澄清了他的理论研究实践和经验研究实践的全部重要之处，并对这两方面的实践进行了反思；第三部分以巴黎研讨班的讨论为基础，为1988年春天布迪厄在法国社会科学高等研究中心为他的研究生讨论课所做的导论性质的发言。在这些讨论课上，布迪厄没有灌输某一组概念，而是强调一种产生社会学创造力的一般性倾向，他倡导并采纳了一种总体性的自我指涉教学法。

Over the last three decades, the French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu has produced one of the most imaginative and subtle bodies of social theory and research of the post war era. Yet, despite the influence of his work, no single introduction to his wide-ranging "oeuvre" is available. This book, intended for an English-speaking audience, offers a systematic and accessible overview, providing interpretive keys to the internal logic of Bourdieu's work by explicating thematic and methodological principles underlying his work. The structure of Bourdieu's theory of knowledge, practice, and society is first dissected by Loï c Wacquant; he then collaborates with Bourdieu in a dialogue in which they discuss central concepts of Bourdieu's work, confront the main objections and criticisms his work has met, and outline Bourdieu's views of the relation of sociology to philosophy, economics, history, and politics. The final section captures Bourdieu in action in the seminar room as he addresses the topic of how to practice the craft of reflexive sociology. Throughout, they stress Bourdieu's emphasis on reflexivity--his inclusion of a theory of intellectual practice as an integral component of a theory of society--and on method--particularly his manner of posing problems that permits a transfer of knowledge from one area of inquiry into another. Amplified by notes and an extensive bibliography, this synthetic view is essential reading for both students and advanced scholars. Pierre Bourdieu is Professor of Sociology at the Collè ge de France. Loï c J. D. Wacquant is a Junior Fellow, Society of Fellows, Harvard University.