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CHOICE Review

It is almost presumptuous to try to unravel in a systematic manner the many topics that Foucault wrote about, to say nothing of trying to classify him as a man of knowledge. Although Foucault is not a sociologist, his catholic interests remind one of Max Weber. Foucault is a social philosopher in the broad and original sense. He does not hesitate to discuss sensitive subjects such as madness, forms of repression and punishment, and sexuality. Smart has done a masterful job of presenting the ideas of Foucault in a clear and concise manner. The book is fairly well indexed. Its bibliography consists of the English translations of Foucault's work; citations are extensive and clear. The book is an essential work for social workers, philosophers, sociologists, criminologists, historians-indeed, anyone with a wide-ranging intellectual curiosity. Upper-division undergraduates and above.-R.V. Gardner, University of Rhode Island