Zygmunt Bauman is one of the most inspirational and controversial thinkers on the scene of contemporary sociology. This collection introduces and critically appraises Bauman's contributions to the field, illuminating how he challenges conventional wisdom in sociology. It concludes with an original contribution by Bauman about himself, never before published in English.

Contents: Introduction: the sociology of Zygmunt Bauman - challenge and critique, Michael Hviid Jacobsen and Poul Poder. Part 1 Methodological Issues: Bauman on metaphors - a harbinger of humanistic hybrid sociology, Michael Hviid Jacobsen and Sophia Marshman; Bauman on ambivalence - fully acknowledging the ambiguity of ambivalence, Matthias Junge. Part 2 Ethics: Bauman on ethics - intimate ethics for a global world?, Manni Crone; Bauman on genocide - modernity and mass murder: from classification to annihilation?, Sophia Marshman. Part 3 Social Integration: Bauman on freedom - consumer freedom as the integration mechanism of liquid society, Poul Poder; Bauman on consumerism - living the marked-mediated life, Tony Blackshaw; Bauman on globalization - the human consequences of a liquid world, Mark Davis; Bauman on strangers - unwanted peculiarities, Niclas MÃ¥nsson. Part 4 Politics: Bauman on politics - stillborn democracy, Mikael Carleheden; Bauman on power - from 'solid' to 'light'?, Robert Campain; Bauman on Utopia - welcome to the hunting zone, Michael Hviid Jacobsen. Postscript: Bauman on Bauman - pro domo sua, Zygmunt Bauman; Index.