The straightedge movement began as a faction of the Washington DC punk culture in the late 1970s, and is characterized by an often militant opposition to drug and alcohol use, smoking, promiscuous sex, and the consumption and abuse of animals. Wood (sociology, U. of Lethbridge, Alberta) examines the subculture through interviews with current and founding straightedgers and discussion of the principles on which it is based and the hardcore music scene that closely accompanies it. Among other themes, the author explores differing perspectives from within the scene about the "rules" for collective and individual straightedge identity, and how that identity should be expressed (symbolically, vocally, militantly, etc). Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)