Madness and Civilization

A History of Insanity in the Age of Reason

By: Michel Foucault

Narrated by: Dave Gillies

In this classic account of madness, Michel Foucault shows once and for all why he is one of the most distinguished European philosophers since the end of World War II. Madness and Civilization, Foucault's first book and his finest accomplishment, will change the way in which you think about society. Evoking shock, pity, and fascination, it might also make you question the way you think about yourself.

©1972 Editions Gallimard; English translation copyright 1965 by Random House, Inc. (P)2016 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Superb scholarship rendered with artistry." ( The Nation)

incredible material, good audio performance

The material is fantastic, but I won't be commenting much on it here. Just wanted to mention what you could already know from the sample, the narrator has a beautiful but thick Scottish accent that some may find difficult at times to understand. I found that the more I listened, the less of an issue it became, as I got I to the groove of the narration and noticed it less. so probably a me issue but just a heads up for others with auditory processesing disorder. Adjusting the speed might help.

Intensely thought provoking art

If you lack the ability to appreciate complex language spoken in a beautiful yet foreign accent, or are otherwise dull and lack a taste for those things which lie beyond a comfortable horizon, then this book is not for you.

Madness and civilization by title

Discipline and punish in audio


Question: how did this happen? How? Editors? Producers? How? How did THIS happen? *genuinely asking

Just really the wrong choice of narrator.

I'm sure this guy is great with other material. But he is just the wrong choice for this. It isn't the Scottish accent. He's just... too flippant. You would think he was reading light fiction. Also, his constantly changing tone makes it hard to follow the text. I

Excellent performance of a classic.

I have to admit I was a bit shocked but then amused about the difference in opinion -- I purposefully came to comment on how fantastic the reading performance was. The text itself is excellent, but I thoroughly enjoyed Gillies rendering, and my only disappointment is that he hasn't been used more for books that I am interested in. It just goes to show that everyone has their preferences, and -- more importantly -- don't necessarily write off giving a book a try just because a certain reader doesn't work for some individuals. I only wish Gillies had been given the other Foucault texts and maybe let loose on the ponderous Heidegger to make following those more enjoyable.