Reading Foucault for Social Work - Softcover

Chambon, Adrienne S.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 023110717X ISBN 13: 9780231107174

Publisher: Columbia University Press, 1999

Synopsis

Much of Michel Foucault's interdisciplinary work is particularly relevant to the problems confronting social workers. This is the first book to offer a reading of Foucault's work oriented toward these ends. More than a just simplistic "application" of theory, this book provides a pragmatically grounded point of entry from which to study the most important thinker of the twentieth century.

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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 "

About the Author

Adrienne S. Chambon is associate professor in the Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto. Allan Irving is professor at the Center for Social Work Education at Widener University and an associate professor at the Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto. The late Laura Epstein was professor emerita, School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago.

About this edition

• Publisher: Columbia University Press
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 023110717X
• ISBN 13: 9780231107174
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 324