Second Language Learning Theories (Arnold Publication) Second Edition

The author brilliantly collates what must amount to a seemingly infinite amount of material. Terms are clearly explained and chapters follow a coherent path, allbeit to a conclusion (minus one star) that wasn't expected... but the journey was well worth it!
Short case studies and examples are easy to skip over but good to see them. The content is deep enough for a University audience and at a reasonable length to link to practical applications as well as leave your mind tinkering. It is a first-time theoretical read and a stepping-stone to broader material as it impartially outlines the arguments for and against each theory.
In the end you are forced to decide for yourself! For the moment I have made my mind up on the theoretical side - how about you? In hindsight the decision to get this title was very easy.

As a student in TESOL, I appreciate this book for giving me a good view of the most important theories in our field. We are so apt to focus and not see the "other stuff". This book is comprehensive easy to understand and clear. A must to all who wonder about the role of functionalist, pragmatic, cognitive, social, UG theories and more are surveyed in a concise and clear fashion. A must to all who do not have an understanding of the theories in our field.