With a focus on the increasing overlap between public and private life, Plummer (sociology, U. of Essex, UK) examines the transformations taking place in the realm of intimacy in contemporary society. He offers a model he calls "intimate citizenship," which highlights the importance of dialogue across opposing positions when dealing with issues such as in vitro fertilization, gay and lesbian partnerships, and Internet pornography. Annotation (c) Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)