Risk has become a key concept in western societies, People are encouraged to seek out information on risk and to take steps to avoid it as much as possible. Risk analysis, risk assessment and risk management are ever-expanding industries. We are now living in a 'risk' society. In this book, Deborah Lupton examines why risk has come to such prominence at this particular point in history. The author traces how risk has been constructed over time from pre-modernity to the later modern era and provides an introduction to the main theories surrounding the subject. She covers a wide range of issues including Risk and culture Sociocultural and scientific perspectives Blame, danger and trust Risk and pleasure. Including examples of the ways in which risk is experienced in everyday life, Risk provides a lively and engaging introduction to one of today's major sociocultural concepts and will be essential reading for students and teachers alike.