Reading Foucault for Social Work [Hardcover]

Adrienne S. Chambon (Editor), Allan Irving (Editor), Laura Epstein (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 1999 | ISBN-10: 0231107161 | ISBN-13: 978-0231107167 0

-- Bob Mullaly, International Social Work

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is an excellent book for social workers interested in an introduction to the work of Foucault and its implications for social workers." -- Edward J. Gumz, School of Social Work, Loyola University of Chicago, Families In Society

"In an essay on 'Foucault and Therapy: The Disciplining of Grief,' Catherine Foote and Arthur Frank offer an excellent review of Foucault's critique of therapy. Their point is not 'to render therapy impossible but to extend therapists' sense of how problematic their work is.' (p. 157) Given the current tendency to medicalize the most basic human emotions, to diagnose instead of understanding, to label instead of analyzing, this essay should be 'must' reading for therapists....In summary, the book offers a multitude of possibilities for explorations and critique not only of what we do but of the very fiber of our age. Social work readers will find it truly educative and those who question our 'rational' practices will find it most rewarding." -- Emilia E. Martinez-Brawley, Arizona State University, Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare

"With the help of Chambon et al. I have discovered that his [Foucault's] ideas can not only help us be more aware of potential misuses of clinical work but can also help in understanding the clients we see in practice." -- Carolyn Saari, Editor, Clinical Social Work Journal

Review

"This reader by Chambon and Irving provides clear explication for using Foucault's system of knowledge development. For us--as social workers in a rationalistic age--it is decidedly unsettling to question what we know and what we do. Nevertheless, we come away from this book with insight into our closely held but infrequently examined assumptions about the function of social work." -- Jeanne C. Marsh, Dean, School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Columbia University Press (April 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0231107161
• ISBN-13: 978-0231107167
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,541,910 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book, February 23, 2008

By 

Dr. Jason L. Powell (Liverpool) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reading Foucault for Social Work (Paperback)

This book is one of the most important sources for social scientists to understand how Michel Foucault's conceptual tools can be used to understand 'social work'. It is inspiring, engaging and passionate explication of how theory makes sense of policy and practice. It is must a read for all social work students, researchers and practitioners.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and thought-provoking collection, August 4, 2009

By 

R. Murphy - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Reading Foucault for Social Work (Paperback)

Should be interesting reading for social workers, therapists, other non-profit and human service workers. If you're in the field and also are familiar with the work of Foucault, you might find the applications of his theory to the practice and theory of social work fascinating. If you're not too familiar with Foucault, you might still find the questions raised to be thought-provoking, as the book provides some good summaries of Foucault's thought here and there, including a round-table in which he and others discuss social work specifically. Essays range from more general discussions of Foucault's work and how it might be meaningfully to analyze and critique social work history, theory, and practice in a general way, to specific applications, such as a Foucauldian analysis of a welfare office, and an argument for why Foucault's theories do NOT seem to hold water with regards to issues faced by inner city youth. Editors provide a good summary of issues raised in the essays and suggest an approach for further discussion and research.

Ultimately, if you are interested in issues of power as they relate to social work theory and practice, this book is highly recommended. Foucault was interested in encouraging and providing a framework for practitioners, critics, and participants in various fields to carefully consider the origins and development of assumptions that guide our circumstances, attitudes, beliefs, and ways of acting, and to construct a "history of the present" in order to challenge those assumptions on an ongoing basis, and be aware of the constant possibility for change. While certainly not the only example of such endeavors being attempted Foucault-style with regards to social work, this is definitely a good step in that direction,and hopefully will inspire much more work along the same lines.