Actor-Network Theory: Trials, Trails and Translations

by Mike Michael

In this thought-provoking and engaging book, Mike Michael brings us a powerful overview of Actor-Network Theory. Covering a breadth of topics, Michael demonstrates how ANT has become a major theoretical framework, influencing scholarly work across a range of fields. Critical and playful, this book fills a notable gap in the literature as Michael expertly explicates the theory and demonstrates how its key concepts can be applied. Comparing and contrasting ANT with other social scientific perspectives, Michael provides a robust and reflexive account of its analytic and empirical promise. A perfect companion for any student of Science and Technology Studies, Sociology, Geography, Management & Organisation Studies, Media & Communication, and Cultural Studies.

200 pages, Paperback

Published February 4, 2017

Reviews

[Alexander Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a sociologist who went great lengths to put together an interdisciplinary overview of ANT, this is a great read for anyone at any level of interest with Actor-Network Theory. I would suggest reading a couple of Latour's or Callon's empirical papers or books before reading this. Your frame of reference will be much improved. At the very least, read Callon's scallops study and maybe Science in Action or Reassembling the Social.

From there, this book will guide you through useful literature, it's "theoretical" framings and usefulness, and how it works relative to similar and competing social theories such as Giddens' Structuration Theory and Star's Boundary Objects.

[szymborskalyte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can’t escape the obscurantism intrinsic to ANT, but I can’t imagine a better primer than this. Better than Latour 2005 certainly!

[Stacy Ma · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friendly life-saver for postgrads struggling with ANT

[Jan D · Rating 4 out of 5]

A much needed book!

Teaching oneself ANT based on the key texts is hard (Actually, teaching oneself from primary sources is always tricky).

It goes through key ideas of the "classic", science-studies ANT with its ideas of translation, actors, enrollment. It also extensively covers extensions of classic ANT, related sociological theories and Post-ANT’s Method Assemblages, Hybrids, performances…

Some sections I found a bit too hard to read, but that was rare.