Reviews

The History of Sexuality, Volume 1: An Introduction by Michel Foucault

vol6_paulina's review

Go to review page

challenging informative reflective fast-paced

4.75

kostopoulos2000's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

gotta re read bc there's a lot i definitely did not fully follow the implications of

eris47's review against another edition

Go to review page

informative reflective

4.0

betsyfarts's review

Go to review page

informative slow-paced

3.75

spookytrashlover's review

Go to review page

informative reflective fast-paced

4.0

kaki4forks's review

Go to review page

3.0

Although this book had a lot of interesting moments overall it was just too overworked and too long. From what I could tell there was too much circumlocution and not enough direct statements, arguments, etc. This doesn't mean I won't be reading his other works though!

isaiahfraley's review

Go to review page

Going to restart

lizawall's review

Go to review page

Kind of a downer, isn't it?

roboxa's review

Go to review page

3.0

I have always been a fan of Foucault. I even wrote my senior thesis on his theory of Panopticism in literature. Many of his thoughts on sexuality are just as fascinating as those about surveillance.

One of the things I admired about this work was how Foucault unflinchingly reverses the common belief that sexuality was repressed and states that the attention given to sexuality as early as the 17th century was actually the reason why so much discourse on the subject exists today. Rather than suppressing sexuality, it was brought into the light. Therefore, sexuality was never really repressed as so many have come to believe but rather put into the forefront of everyone’s thoughts.

He goes on to talk about power, and how sexuality has gradually become a more integral part of how power structures function. In the end, we are forced to come to the conclusion that sexuality is more a part of our lives than some would care to admit.

It was a fascinating read, albeit a little rough at times given Foucault’s habit of writing long and sometimes circular sentences that need to be read multiple times to find the major point. However, if you are willing to give it the time and brain power (which you honestly should) it brings to light some ideas that will change the way you thought of the past and how the power of sexuality can be seen today.

garibae's review

Go to review page

3.0

MARINA could write The History of Sexuality but Foucault couldn't write "Sex Yeah"