The American surfer

The American Surfer: Radical Culture and Capitalism (2011) by Kristin Lawler examines surf culture through the lenses of political economy and cultural theory, arguing that surfing participates in and contests capitalist social relations.

Lawler situates surf culture within broader histories of radicalism, consumption, and environmental activism, challenging simplistic portrayals of surfers as apolitical.

The book analyzes how surf identities are constructed and how surf practices relate to class, leisure, and commodification.

It has been influential in establishing surfing studies as an academic field, particularly in the United States.