<p>The best textbook for teaching an introductory course in religious studies has just gotten better with a new edition. Martin’s ability to make critical theory not only understandable, but also useful, to beginning students, is the primary strength of his book. His choice of examples, illustrating the complex theoretical issues he addresses, guarantees student learning will be both significant and – dare I say it – enjoyable. Charles William Miller, <em>University of North Dakota, USA </em></p><p><em>A Critical Introduction to the Study of Religion</em> provides key strategies for disentangling the category "religion" and examining religious traditions as complex social phenomena. The text is an effective introduction to explanatory socio-functional approaches, which enable students to ask new sets of questions of their subject. The second edition is a comprehensive model for a new vision of Religious Studies. Kristian Petersen, <em>University of Nebraska Omaha, USA</em></p>