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The field of social psychology is defined and inspired by a number of 'classic studies'. As well as Philip Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment, these include ground-breaking studies by researchers like Solomon Asch, Leon Festinger, Stanley Milgram, Muzafer Sherif, and Henri Tajfel.

July 2012 saw the publication by SAGE of a new book — edited by Joanne Smith and Alex Haslam — that re-examines these classic studies by reflecting closely on their methods and findings and offering a lively discussion of the subsequent work that they have inspired. The chapters are authored by leading researchers who have worked extensively on the various topics that the studies address. Contributions by Alex Haslam and Steve Reicher examine both Zimbardo's Stanford study and Milgram's work on obedience.

The content of the book maps onto the structure of most introductory courses, and is an ideal way of engaging students in social psychology's subject matter.  More generally, though, it is a compelling read for anyone who wants to know more about the field and the dramatic studies that lie at its heart.  It is available from Amazon and all good bookstores.