Desire for Race

"An outstanding contribution to political and cultural theorizing, Desire for Race systematically unpacks the tenacity of the belief in that un-real thing we call race. Thanks to this book we will never again refer to 'race' without the quotation marks – and without referencing the desire for race, the dreams of race, the memories of race, and the persistent academic repetitions of the category of race that ultimately reinstate the belief in “race” and offer fuel to the fire of racism. A must read for any serious social theorist, and for all those who care about social inequality." - Sharon Hays, Professor of Sociology and Streisand Chair of Gender Studies, University of Southern California

"...erudite, elegantly and tightly argued.... Recommended." - Choice

"It is thrilling (and long overdue) to see thinkers such as Durkheim, Mauss, Karl Mannheim, and Freud invoked by sociologists in theorizing race. In light of its very significant contribution, any criticisms I may have of the book are so minor as to fade into insignificance.... I learned so much from this book and will use it in my teaching and scholarship for years to come. I believe it will be essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the elusive concept that is its object." - Alexander Riley, Bucknell University, Sociological Inquiry

"Desire for Race is a serious, innovative, thought-provoking contribution to social scientific theory of race. In an area of the discipline that is never short on controversy, but where the controversies are often over-rehearsed and under-thought, Daynes and Lee have written and insightful, challenging, and unconventionally controversial book." - Mara Loveman, University of Wisconsin, Contemporary Sociology