Past debates have highlighted the importance of the self to a better understanding of the nature of culture and its relation to power. In his book, John Mandalios incorporates the current 'postmodern' debate on these issues with a deeper, philosophical exploration of identity and cultural formation, and the dynamics of social power underlying them. He takes up identity formation within an analysis of the historical, social, political, religious, and psychoanalytical dimensions of civilized life that can be traced back to the classical world.