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Discipline & Punish: The Birth of the Prison Paperback – April 25, 1995

by Michel Foucault (Author), Alan Sheridan (Translator)

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In this brilliant work, the most influential philosopher since Sartre suggests that such vaunted reforms as the abolition of torture and the emergence of the modern penitentiary have merely shifted the focus of punishment from the prisoner's body to his soul.

Discipline & Punish: The Birth of the Prison

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Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French

About the Author

Michel Foucault was born in Poitiers, France, in 1926. He lecturerd in universities throughout the world; served as director at the Institut Francais in Hamburg, Germany and at the Institut de Philosophi at the Faculte des Lettres in the University of Clermont-Ferrand, France; and wrote frequently for French newspapers and reviews. At the time of his death in 1984, he held a chair at France's most prestigious institutions, the College de France.

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Product Details

Paperback: 333 pages
Publisher: Vintage Books (April 25, 1995)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0679752552
ISBN-13: 978-0679752554
Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.8 x 8 inches
Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (118 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,274 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Modern
- #3 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Sociology > Social Theory
- #5 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Social Philosophy

Customer Reviews

118

4.4 out of 5 stars

5 star		66%
4 star		16%
3 star		9%
2 star		4%
1 star		5%

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Top Customer Reviews

Illuminating

Bycareful consumeron February 27, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

The author describes in great detail the many steps that have been taken over many centuries by those in power to manipulate, control, terrify, quantify, observe, categorize and cajole humanity into manageable pigeonhole dwelling "units". It makes you want to immediately read Thoreau.

0Comment 6 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

The Birth Of Modern Times

ByN. Allenon August 29, 2012

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

"Barely two hundred and fifty years ago a man condemned of attempting to assassinate the King of France was drawn and quartered in a grisly spectacle that suggested an unmediated duel between the violence of the criminal and the violence of the state" (Book Jacket). When compared to the modern tactics of contemporary prison, we can begin to see that we have not merely experienced an evolution, but a fundamental restructuring of our system. What Foucault is able to accomplish in the space of 300 pages is remarkable. We journey from the Medieval power struggles to the knowledge of modern times; a knowledge that has compelled us to abandon this confrontation between offender and offended.

What used to generate latent feelings of power and resoluteness in the mass has undergone a definite process of banalization. In other words, the violent forces meeting in an ultimate showdown of wills has been removed in favor of a shameful and boring "isolationism" for convicts. We follow the different streams of thought and custom, traversing the classical age until we find that "power" ultimately culminated into a new principle of societal order: surveillance. Or as utilitarian reformer Bentham terms it, the "panopticon" (That which sees all). With no words wasted, the style can be rough going, especially as terminology is introduced in the early chapters. However, the last 70 or so pages roar with ferocity through modern ideas and rationalizations of discipline and imprisonment.

It is easy to understand how Foucault was hated by conservative rationalists and system apologists. The approach taken is essentially anarchistic, in the sense that Foucault offers no alternative system and that he does not criticize certain trajectories in favor of others. He is fundamentally opposed to the current civilization (and this extends even beyond his beginnings in the pre-classical systems) Despite this, strong willed readers will appreciate the complete absence of dogma or moralizing rhetoric. In this way, the work is beyond criticism, except perhaps that this kind of knowledge tends to paralyze readers from action.

Ultimately, a close read will provide an unimaginable amount of value. We are shown the themes of modernity as they existed in their nascent stages, without wading through the endless legal and political details. Foucault is explicit that there are of course many other institutions that were ultimately governed by the same power/knowledge including hospitals and schools. I would encourage any active citizen to read this book as they make their way through their journey.

22 comments 9 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

This translation isn't the best, the original English translation that was published alongside ...

ByJohn Benekeon November 20, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This translation isn't the best, the original English translation that was published alongside the original French version (from the late 70's) is much better, but quite rare and expensive.

0Comment 4 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

It is a little tedious, but nevertheless an important piece of literature that ...

BySheilaon December 13, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Foucault is a classic, must-read for any CJ/penology/criminology major. It is a little tedious, but nevertheless an important piece of literature that will help you gain insight into 1) the various forms and processes of punishment; and 2) how punishment has taken shape and evolved throughout history.

0Comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Vast and insightful

ByKindle Customeron May 6, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Great read on prison and surveillance, power and knowledge, and the ways each has influenced the others in the last several hundred years.

0Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Remarkable history to the breakdown today

Bygraceon October 1, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Crazy justice system. Popular juries - and popular judges makes the system stink! If you cannot be represented by your peers in the jury box like it is today - you might as well open the door to prison.

Our correctional and justice system needs to be blown up and to start up from the ground up!

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The only way I want to experience Foucault is to listen to him on an Audiobook.

ByAmazon Customeron October 11, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Michel Foucault is the writer who has had the strongest influence on me in the last 10 years. Audiobooks are the only way I can absorb Foucault. Foucault is amazing, essential, mind expanding; but dense. I had to learn how to 'read' him first. My partner taught me that rather than reading a passage, understanding it fully, moving on to the next in a linear sequence; with him its better to read in waves, revisiting, letting words wash over a couple of times. Words gather meaning with him incrementally, nuance is built in layers as he goes from positing a statement, to illustrating it in plain speak, to explaining it through a historic example, to another example and another etc, finally leaving you with a very 3 dimensional idea of a concept, as its meaning has been 'triangulated' from many angles.

Translating him cannot be easy. The 4 stars, is because i think he can be translated simpler for today.

0Comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Essential Read

ByAmazon Customeron November 11, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Essential read for understanding the history of western crime and punishment.

0CommentWas this review helpful to you?YesNo

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Published 1 month ago by Amazon Customer

but new and in good condition

not the same cover, but new and in good condition

Published 1 month ago by Trevor Dixon

Just note that you may not get the cover that ...

Just note that you may not get the cover that is pictured for the book. Mine was a different cover (same book)

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Good book

Published 4 months ago by Meng Jia

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very satisfactory!!

Published 7 months ago by romeo d. geronimo jr.

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This product arrived extremely fast and I was very impressed with the overall quality of the product.

Published 8 months ago by Samantha DeHoff

Had to buy for college

Not my cup of tea but Had to buy for for college classroom

Published 10 months ago by Brian

It's a great read for students of Philosophy

It's a great read for students of Philosophy. I really enjoyed reading this one. I love Michel Focault's writing style!

Published 11 months ago by Mary

Five Stars

Foucault is worth reading.

Published 1 year ago by Wildthing18

Five Stars

Landmark treatise.

Published 1 year ago by spinteractive

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