Chomsky has had a major influence on modern linguistics, psychology, and philosophy. In this rigorous yet accessible account of Chomsky's work, Neil Smith analyzes Chomsky's key contributions to the study of both language and the mind. He gives a detailed exposition of Chomsky's linguistic theorizing, and examines the ideas for which he is best known. Finally, Smith examines Chomsky's political ideas and how these fit intellectually with his scholarly work. Throughout, Smith explores the controversy surrounding Chomsky's work, and explains why he has been both adulated and vilified.