It is not so easy to determine where Foucault is attempting to go with his published books. In this sense, the books from "Madness and Civilization" to the 3rd "History of Sexuality" can be thought of as practical works that have specific institutional and discursive aims. Thus, they are short in explanation of the methodology and instead such intentions are available as they are practiced in the texts. For example, philosophers such as Nietzsche and Marx, to name a few, are hardly mentioned in Foucault's book; however, they are often evoked and utilised without obvious references or footnotes. As Deleuze once commented: Foucault doesn't say what to do, he just does it.

Thus, Foucault's occasional essays, covering academic journals, popular press, lectures, introductions, and so on, serve to clue us, the readers, as to where Foucault is coming from, and, furthermore, in which direction his thought is heading.

This edition, covering Foucault's superb writings on literature, his mentors, music, as well as other philosophical movements, situates a thinker within an intellectual context from his very own words. In "The Archaeology of Knowledge" Foucault begins by saying "do not ask me who I am..." To be sure, with this volume, we can begin to better understand Foucault without the interface of commentators and scholars. Directness of discourse is an important element in Foucault's thought...

Although much of the pieces that appear here have been previously translated and released in a variety of formats, I predict that any scholar or occasional reader would be pleased to accept this redundancy for the very convenience that this collection presents.

Some most interesting pieces include, the previously hard to find Foucault's response to Derrida's reading of "Madness and Civilization"; Foucault's responses to the Epistemology circle; and an illuminating interview in which Foucault situates his thought in 20th Century French intellectual life. In addition, this collection includes popular 'staple' such as "Theatrum Philosophicum," "Nietzsche, Freud, Marx," and "Nietzsche, Genealogy, History," all of which provide endless insight into Foucault even despite numerous re-readings.

While serious followers of Foucault's works would benefit greatly from this collection, this would also serve as a good introduction to Foucault--maybe second only to the cartoon books on Foucault!

And to close: if Nietzsche was the greatest philosophical stylist, this collection demonstrates conclusively that Foucault was a close second...

Michel Foucault , i think should be read by anyone read and liked Nietzsche.

is much needed if we are to understand today's undercurrents in right-wing thinking that is permenating in corporate America, our government, and, especially, our media. Pseudoscientists such as Phillip Rushton, Richard Herrinstein(who co-wrote the Bell Curve)as well as conservative writers such as Peter Brimelow and Dinesh D'Souza have contributed to an already racist atmosphere in America today.

Conservative politicians have long used racially tinged issues such as immigration, welfare, changing demographics, affirmative action, education, and crime to divide the people and to stroke middle-class whites' fear of change, culturally, morally, and ethnically. Republicans are very good at this, for they are the party of the status quo and the 'guardians' of white moral,racial, and cultural "purity". I hope this book be a wakeup call for America to change their presumptions of race and to demand a more equitable and undivided society as envisioned by the Founders of this nation.

In this amazing, necessarily complex, and deeply scholarly work, Dr. Gilroy, a Yale Professor of Sociology and African American Studies, lays out his well-thought-out and wholly reasonable thesis: humanity ought not to be split into groups based on skin color, and in fact twentieth-century fascism, an astonishingly dangerous 'ism' whose power came wholly from the false divisions of groups within societies, and whose specter remains with us in its various modern forms (the Klan, modern Nazis, the Aryan Nation, and corresponding European and African racist groups) - would wither in a raceless world - to the nearly unimaginable benefit of humanity.

Dr. Gilroy has not written a polemic so much as a comprehensive and authoritative survey of his topic. He has a utopian vision, but he is in command of the facts. He cites sources, references, and examples from literally all walks of life - pop culture to world history to cultural studies to genomics. It's an incredible ride.

The book is divided into three sections, and the chapters are each able to stand alone as insightful and original essays. In his first section, the foundation is laid with an essay on modernity, which traces the beginnings of 'race thinking' to the eighteenth century in Europe.

The second section deals with the frightening realities of modern fascism, and its considerable threat to society. Tangentially but not unimportantly, Dr. Gilroy includes a discussion of power, war, and the language, imagery, and culture of fascism, including advertising and promotions of mass movements.

In the third section, "Black to the Future," the author addresses a panoply of issues including sexism, race and guilt, success, the world of Black culture, and the considerable implications of cosmopolitanism - a unified world - as opposed to separateness.

No brief review can adequately discuss this important and erudite author's contribution. The book is dense, well-organized, and easily could form the text for a college-level course on this interesting and riveting topic. It is also totally readable and useful - out of the classroom. There are nearly 100 pages of notes, and a comprehensive index.

A must-read for anyone with an interest in the multitude of topics he explores - or anyone looking for a set of good reasons to work to better the world. It has a wealth of information - and deserves more than five stars.

A wonderful book that deals often with Angelic appearances in recent times and generally offers a bracing up for those who would like a positive approach to angels and what they do for humans. The book covers examples of stories of angels in scripture. Both old and new testaments. Great reading particularly for the younger or more sensitive individual. When ready perhaps the reader may want to go on to another book by the same publisher but more serious called "The Angels" which offers more detail on their actualy abilities as viewed by the Roman Catholic Church. "The Angels" by Pascal Parente which is more detailed, however covers angels in a more technical aspect. For instance how they move about and how they communicate. All categories of angels are discussed. All About Angels is a very positive book aimed at bolstering humans.

Father O'Sullivan writes an excellent book telling pretty much everything you have ever wanted to know about angels. He speaks of apparitions of angels and stories of various Saints who have been blessed with seeing the presence of their angels at all times. He tells us of the greatness of our angels' love for us, and that they are willing to help us with ANYTHING we want if we ask them. Great book for all those seeking the truth about angels and for clearing up common misconceptions the world has.

I read "All Rise," loved it to death and could not put it down. What a great story for all ages. I passed it oo to my Teenage Granddaughter and she loved it. I was surprised when she told me she read it in two days and passed it on to her girl friend. This is the kind of stuff we used to love when we were teens so I guess things haven't changed as much as we thought.

I couldn't put this book down! It is a fast-moving story of a teenager who is falsely accused of a crime. I felt like I got to know the characters in the story, especially, the hero. It has a twist at the end that I didn't expect. I also liked the book because it supports causes that are important to me, such as anti-racism and the importance of being loyal to your friends.

Tells about famous American patriot/silversmith Paul Revere and his famous ride to Lexington and Concord. Well known story but excellent.

When Paul was about fourteen,his farther was mad because Paul's friend Micky was getting beat by his master. Mr. Revere was going to see if Micky's master would sell him. Paul was going to tell his friend Micky in the morning but Micky wasn't there. He was gone but Paul and his father looked for months for Micky.

Until 1997 and the release of Spielberg's grand film, AMISTAD, I had never heard of the Amistad uprising. That movie, through a mix of fact and fiction, piqued my interest and I began reading and researching all I could about the Amistad. That search led to me learning a great deal more about African-American History than I had ever learned before. In the way the movie piqued my interest, AMISTAD RISING will pique younger student's interest in not only the Amistad, but a host of other subjects as well. The book itself is fairly short and contains some very powerful illustrations. The text skimps on the facts of the Amistad and relies a great deal upon the author's imagination to tell the story of Cinque. Nevertheless, there is enough factual information that children can learn something without becoming bored with the specifics of historical data. This is a wonderful book and children are fascinated by the pictures. Great reading for African-American History Month.

It was in 1839 and slavery was still prominent and legal. Many slave owners had become very rich from selling human beings and wanted to continue this way of life. Amistad Rising is written and published in a way that allows readers to visualize and imagine what life would be like for and African-American during the time of slavery. The reader is also allowed to identify with the main character Joseph Clinque and witness the events that occurred in his life. The reader is also made aware of how he was able to empower himself to settle the conflicts in his life. I believe this book would definitely appeal to students in grades six and up. Not only are they provided with the history of Amistad, but they are invited to relate to it's main character. It is important for students to read books that have a historical background about mistreatments of others and how conflicts can be resolved without violent measures. This book would be a great tie-in for a unit on slavery. When reading about slavery in history texts, it is sometimes hard for students to visualize the events being discussed or attach a human emotion to the event. I believe the illustrations in this book provide that for the students.

Very interesting elementary book. A little bit too simple for indepth school report requirements but overall well writen. Easily understood and great illustrations. Better then the average Nature Company books on other subjects.

An imformative children's book with the basic history of Ancient Rome. Filled with colorful and hisorically correct pictures. A perfect book for the future historians.

I had to read this book for an Anthropology class. Didn't think it was going to be very interesting, but I really like the book. It's a book about the lives of Gregorio and Asunta, and it basically tells of their hardships as Runas, in Peru. I don't think its the kind of book that people would actually pick out to read for entertainment, but if you have to read it for a class, don't be so bummed out about it cause I'm sure you'll really like it.

This is definately the best introduction there is for those who are interested in the Andes or those who are planning on traveling to Peru or other Andean countries. It is great to get the inside story from the indigenous peoples themselves, and gregorio and asunta are great storytellers!

If you have any interest in baseball--or if you were ever a devotee of H. Allen Smith's THREE MEN ON THIRD--you'll have trouble putting this one down. Yes, you will add tremedously to your factoid collection and probably never again pay for another glass of whatever you drink at your local watering hole. But that's only half the story of this book. Salisbury loves his subject and that sympathy for facts is contagious, reminding us that "fan" does come from "fanatic." Yes, some of the collection tells stories that are not very happy, and Boston fans are going to struggle reliving the part on Conigliaro, but Salisbury does an excellent job throughout. I finally forced myself to a chapter a night just to prolong things.

This is a great book about baseball. The author does not ask stupid questions that anyone could look up for themselves. He doesn't treat baseball trivia like it is an answer to be found in an encyclopedia. Why is this book not in print?

I had to have this one - an intersection of two writers I've admired for some time. Fussel is probably the ideal person to write such an appraisal. As mentioned above, the lack of critical theoryspeak is most welcome. The interpretation of Amis as a moral satirist (which isn't a category that you see very much) provides a useful key to most of his work (fiction, poetry, and prose alike.) If you're a fan of the work, you'll enjoy this - it's like having a chance to sit down across from an intelligent, perceptive reader who likes the same things you do.

"For all the sometimes rowdy comedy attending Amis's depictions of meanness, his understanding of its psychology is complicated and serious. It is, if funny, also immoral, so little and minimal, practiced by wee men only. And it betrays neurosis, implying constant "paranoid" watchfulness lest one be had. It keeps one on a constant stretch of attentive calculation, and this finally becomes a substitute for thought, as well as replacing an objective interest in things outside oneself."

"I feel STRETCHED", Bilbo Baggins after having the One Ring for a while.