Across the globe, the field of literary theory has injected a broad array of innovative concepts into intellectual life - compulsory heterosexuality, cultural capital, hybridity, interpretive communities, and whiteness, to name just a few. In this provocative Manifesto, Vincent Leitch argues that the field of theory, like other spheres of postmodern consumer culture, has become overburdened with new terms and approaches, creating a compelling need for maps and guides. In a clear readable style, Living with Theory maps out contemporary theory, tracing its complex configurations, its political preoccupations, and its relations with literature. It explores the engagement of theory with such phenomena as globalization and postmodernism, multiculturalism and cultural wars, plus the rise of neoliberalism and the corporate university. The book also highlights the current reconfiguration of critical reading and its potential future. An unabashed defense of postmodern theory and cultural studies, Living with Theory's appeal extends beyond literary and cultural studies circles, and will be of value to anyone interested in the current and future role of theory across the humanities and social sciences.