The standard text in the field,
Vold's Theoretical Criminology
is universally known by scholars in the discipline. Taking a largely historical approach, it discusses both classic and contemporary theories, presenting historical context and empirical research for each one.
Vold's is a classic, trusted for decades as the definitive, comprehensive source of criminological theories. One of the marks of its success is that its usage spans introductory and upper-level courses; it is even used in graduate-level courses. The writing style is crisp, clear, and easy to understand but not watered down.