This collection was—and is—a cornerstone of cultural studies in the United States. The book reads like a "who's who" of international researchers on cultural studies-y topics and covers pretty much every area you could wish for, making it a classic text for anyone wanting to get a flavor of cultural studies scholarship.
Seriously, where else but cultural studies would you find Shakespeare, Rambo, and Hustler in the same place?
While cultural studies doesn't conform to disciplinary boundaries, Grossberg, Nelson, and Treichler emphasize that we need to identify some recurring aspects in this field rather than just proudly crowing "it can't be defined." What are the plusses and minuses of avoiding a specific definition of this area of studies? Why is that part of what makes cultural studies cultural studies?