Kirby (sociology and anthropology, U. of New South Wales, Australia) explores the writings of American post-structuralist philosopher Judith Butler (UC- Berkeley), whose work spans philosophy and contemporary theory as well as political commentary and popular culture. The author examines several important themes--gender, sexuality, and performance; language, power, performativity; and identity and politics--in a selection of Butler's works: Subjects of Desire: Hegelian Reflections in Twentieth-Century France, Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity, Bodies that Matter: On the Discursive Limits of "Sex", Excitable Speech: A Politics of the Performative, and The Psychic Life of Power: Theories of Subjection. Undoing Gender. Also included is a discussion of Butler commenting on other scholars and critics, and others commenting on Butler, and an interview of Butler conducted by Kirby. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)