This introductory guide to Louis Althusser provides an overview of his work. Focusing on Althusser's writing on art, theatre and literature (as well of those of his collaborator, Pierre Macherey), Warren Montag traces the contradictory development of Althusser's thought from the early 60s to his autobiography, "The Future Lasts Forever". Montag also explores how Althusser's reflections on reading can shed new light on well known texts such as "Heart of Darkness" and "Robinson Crusoe". Additional material includes an annotated bibliography of texts by and on Althusser and a previously untranslated essay by Althusser on Brecht and Marx.