This is an introduction to Judith Butler's thought and writings up to about 2001, focusing on five of Butler's key interests: the subject, gender, sex, language and the psyche. Salih usefully breaks down some of Butler's more opaque prose, and I think I understand a little better some concepts which I didn't get in the last historiography class I took. Salih is however a little too defensive of Butler (and her prose style)—the fact that Butler says her prose style is deliberate doesn't make it effective or a good idea—and there are still problems or confusions I have with Butler that aren't addressed here. Her work is situated within a pretty ahistorical, cisgender, white American and so much of her stuff makes the historian in me twitch and say "But." I think what I need to seek out are some trans* responses to her work. ( )