"This collection extends the boundaries of cultural studies beyond its current Euro-American emphasis. It takes readers on a wide-ranging journey from the stock market to Islamic law, from the African household to the Soviet apartment, from the nuances of nationalism to the rude noises of capitalistic rhetoric, introducing readers to the social and historical forces that shape textual practice. The essays are richly imaginative and empirically detailed, ingeniously connecting regional debates and local dynamics to universal global issues. Finally, Reading the Shape of the World reconfigures cultural studies theories and methodologies, resulting in a fresh and empowering approach to this dynamic field of inquiry. At the heart of this study is the optimistic belief that reading still matters, that the world can be shaped by reading, and that critical practices of reading can transform the contours of social life."--BOOK JACKET.