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In this passionately argued book, Ingold relates how a field of study once committed to ideals of progress collapsed amidst the ruins of war and colonialism, only to be reborn as a discipline of hope, destined to take centre stage in debating the most pressing issues of our time.

Language is the medium in which we humans compose our thoughts, explain our thinking, construct our arguments, and create works of literature. Without language, societies as complex as ours could not exist.Geoffrey Pullum offers a stimulating introduction to the many ways in which linguistics, as the scientific study of language, matters. With its close relationships to psychology, education, philosophy, and computer science, the subject has a compelling human story to tell about the ways in which different societies see and describe the world, and its far-reaching applications range from law to medicine and from developmental psychology to artificial intelligence.Introducing Polity's Why It Matters series: In these short and lively books, world-leading thinkers make the case for the importance of their subjects and aim to inspire a new generation of students.

"Why, in the age of Trump and fake news, journalism matters more than ever"--

"The media plays a massive role in shaping the world as we see it. Couldry explains the significance of five core dimensions of media, and shows that understanding these dynamics is a vital skill that every person needs in the digital age, when the fate of our political worlds and social environment may rest on how we communicate with each other"--

"Despite centuries of arguments, no one can agree on what literature is, or how to study it. But, argues Eaglestone, it is precisely the open-ended nature of literature that makes it such a rewarding and useful subject of study. Literature is a living conversation which provides endless opportunities to rethink and reinterpret our world"--

"Philosophy is a set of tools and techniques for clearly and systematically considering our arguments and uncovering our hidden assumptions, which helps us to make more informed choices about what to believe and how to act. Philosophy is everywhere, and open to everyone"--

"Religion dominates world affairs. Ward argues that the study of theology and religion, as a single academic discipline, plays a vital role in helping us to understand humanity. Religions can be used to justify inhumane actions, but they also feed dreams, inspire hopes, and shape aspirations. Religion will not go away, so it needs to be understood"--

"Politics frames everything we do. Right now humanity is in a race against itself, adjusting to new technologies that are destabilizing democracy and creating massive inequalities. By thinking and acting politically, Gamble argues, we can harness the imagination and enthusiasm of people everywhere to tackle these challenges and shape a better world"--

How can any certainty about history be established, and why does it matter? Lynn Hunt shows why the search for truth about the past, as a continual process of discovery, is vital for our societies. History, she argues, is our best defense against tyranny.

"Classics ought to be obsolete. And yet it survives, not (or not only) as a marker of wealth and privilege but as a forward-looking and even radical discipline. In this incisive book, Neville Morley explores the present and future of the subject"--