Photo of Michel Foucault
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Michel Foucault

1926–1984

1 series 6 books in order 4 standalone books

Paul-Michel Foucault (1926–1984) was a French historian of ideas and philosopher who was also an author, literary critic, political activist, and teacher. His theories primarily addressed the relationships between power, knowledge, and liberty, analysing how they are used as a form of social control through multiple institutions. Though often cited as a structuralist and postmodernist, Foucault rejected these labels. His thought has influenced scholars across anthropology, communication studies, criminology, cultural studies, feminism, literary theory, psychology, and sociology.

Born
1926
Known for
Foucault's lectures at the Collège de France

Series by Michel Foucault

Foucault's lectures at the Collège de France

2 books in order

  1. Security, Territory, Population

    Year unknown · Michel Foucault

    "Security, Territory, Population: Lectures at the Collège de France, 1977–1978" is a book based on a series of lectures delivered by French…

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  2. Cover of The birth of biopolitics

    The birth of biopolitics

    Year unknown · Michel Foucault

    Michel Foucault's 1979 lectures at the College de France, The Birth of Biopolitics, continue the themes explored in his previous year's lectures,…

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Standalone books

  1. Cover of Discipline and Punish

    Discipline and Punish

    1977

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  2. Cover of The Birth of the Clinic

    The Birth of the Clinic

    1973

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  3. Cover of Madness and Civilization

    Madness and Civilization

    1971

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  4. Cover of The Order of Things

    The Order of Things

    1971

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Frequently asked questions

How many books has Michel Foucault written?

We list 6 books by Michel Foucault across 1 series, published between 1971–1977 — each shown in full reading order.

What order should I read Michel Foucault's books?

Read each series in publication order. A good place to start is “The birth of biopolitics.” Open any series above for its complete numbered reading order.

Where can I buy Michel Foucault's books?

Every title links to Amazon from its series page — see our affiliate disclosure in the footer for how that supports the site.

Reading order compiled from author/publisher guidance and verified bibliographic data. Spotted a wrong order, a missing book, or any other mistake? and we'll correct it.

Some summaries adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.