Giving Way

Steven Connor once again demonstrates his ability to produce an erudite study that reveals the historical, literary, cultural, and philosophical dimensions of a seemingly mundane topic, examining human interaction and 'civility' from different, and often delightfully surprising, points of view. -- Benet Davetian Connor's book, in my opinion, would be spellbinding for scholars working in performance studies as a field that endlessly frames, reframes and unframes its scope and dispositions by finding and giving way....Giving Way serves as a beacon of hope in the harsh competitiveness of a neoliberal world in which people cannot not do. -- Mohammad Mehdi Kimagari Can one be effusively enthusiastic or unreservedly supportive of a book that asks its audience to exercise restraint? Connor helped me see why civility might be one of the most radical things we can aspire to in the contemporary world. Giving Way gets to the root of what it means to be an ethical human being. -- David Kishik This book is, at its core, about acting with reserve and within limits, and it has the rare distinction of being appropriate for readers of all stripes....An invaluable resource, particularly for those interested in moral philosophy and psychology. Essential. -- S. E. Forschler If anyone can persuade us of the merits of abstaining and refraining, holding back and backing down, it is Steven Connor, one of the most consistently interesting critics writing today. Displaying the author's characteristic blend of learnedness and verve, Giving Way is a bold, wide-ranging, and highly original work-a dazzling exercise in what he dubs cultural phenomenology. -- Rita Felski