This book investigates the intersection of neoliberal ideology and the field of applied linguistics, questioning how market-driven values influence language teaching, policy, and research. The authors, David Block, John Gray, and Marnie Holborow, utilize a critical social theory framework to examine how the global spread of neoliberalism has reshaped the professional landscape of language education. By analyzing the commodification of language and the shifting roles of educators, the text argues that linguistic practices are increasingly subordinated to economic imperatives. The work provides a rigorous critique of the neoliberal influence on institutional structures and individual identity within the discipline.

Experts within the field of applied linguistics recognize this text as a significant contribution to the critical study of language and power. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the authors' commitment to challenging the status quo in language education research.