Reading Foucault for Social Work
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 ChicagoFamilies 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 UniversityJournal 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, EditorClinical Social Work Journal)