Using Foucault′s Methods: (Introducing Qualitative Methods series)

About the Book

`As a companion to Foucault′s original texts, carefully showing what he′s done and why - and how that could be applied elsewhere - it′s outstanding′ - www.theory.org.uk

`Very much a `hands-on′ tool kit of a book, scholarly but accessible.... a very useful textbook which approaches its subject in an original way′ - Sociological Research Online

`At last, a student-friendly guide that answers the question: "Yes, but how do you do Foucault?" Kendall and Wickham address the thorny question of how-to-Foucault in a clear, distinctive manner that stands out in the secondary literature on this important thinker′ - Toby Miller, New York University

This book provides a clear, straightforward guide to those who want to apply the work of Foucault to their own field of interest. The authors employ an accessible style to encourage readers to engage with Foucault′s work by tackling the issues that students most often raise.

The book is organized around the following themes: history, archaeology, genealogy and discourse as the cornerstones of Foucault′s methods; and science and culture as important objects of analysis for those using Foucault′s methods. The book enables the reader to understand how Foucault′s contribution to social thought can be applied and opens up possibilities for researchers to use Foucault rather than merely discuss him.

Table of Contents:
PART ONE: HISTORY, ARCHAEOLOGY, GENEALOGY AND DISCOURSE AS THE CORNERSTONES OF FOUCAULT′S METHODS `I′m Interested in Foucault, But Why Should I Be Interested in History?′ `My Head is Spinning, Doesn′t History Have to Be More Orderly Than This?′ PART TWO: SCIENCE AND CULTURE AS IMPORTANT OBJECTS OF ANALYSIS FOR THOSE USING FOUCAULT′S METHODS `Why Has Everybody Started Following Scientists Around?′ `Have I Missed Something? Modernism Seems To Have Come and Gone, and Yet Never Appeared, and Power and Knowledge Seem To Have Become Door-Closers and Crustaceans′ `Can I Apply This Stuff to Shakespeare and Shopping?′ PART THREE: CONCLUSION `Is Foucault a Party Animal?′

About the Author :
Born in London, Gavin Kendall was educated at Cambridge, Manchester and London Universities, and before moving to QUT, lectured for six years at Lancaster University. His books include The Sociology of Cosmopolitanism; State, Democracy and Globalization; Understanding Culture; and Using Foucault′s Methods. "I try to relate my teaching to my research, inasmuch as I try to always discuss my thinking on the key questions that have stayed with me through all my years as an undergraduate, a postgraduate, and an academic – questions of power and government, of the role of law, and of the limits of sovereignty."

Review :
`As a companion to Foucault′s original texts, carefully showing what he′s done and why -- and how that could be applied elsewhere -- it′s outstanding′ - www.theory.org.uk

`Very much a `hands-on′ tool kit of a book, scholarly but accessible.... a very useful textbook which approaches its subject in an original way′ - Sociological Research Online

`At last, a student-friendly guide that answers the question: "Yes, but how do you do Foucault?" Kendall and Wickham address the thorny question of how-to-Foucault in a clear, distinctive manner that stands out in the secondary literature on this important thinker′ - Toby Miller, New York University

A must for understanding Foucault′s methods for any qualitative researcher. The book has a teaching quality that is accessible to many students, both undergraduate and postgraduate. I think this is one of the best books I have read in a long time this is a fab book for anyone struggling to implement foucault, well worth a look 5 stars This provides both the philosophical and methodological instruction that I want my students to learn. An in depth exploration of using discourse as a main research tool. The book is very easy to grasp even though it deals with quite a complicated theory and theoretical approach. A must for any student that thinks of using Foucualt as their main research theory This book is both fantastic and problematic - the problem mainly being in the limited scope of the title.

A better title could be: Using Foucault′s and Latour′s methods.

It is one of THE most accessible and clearest introductions to sociology of scientific knowledge, science-and-technology studies and actor-network theory.

It clearly shows continuities between Bruno Latour, Michael Callon and John Law and Foucault and how it can be used and applied both as an analytic mentality / sensibility and more practically. It demystifies the often complex and difficult Foucault, it grounds his work in applicability and it shows strong and fascinating links with other concerns about qualitative research generally.

Unfortunately the title and blurb don′t really indicate this. We′re adopting it as a recommended text on a course introducing SSK and STS. The lead conveners reaction on looking at the title and cover was "why are you giving this to me this course has NOTHING to do with Foucault, followed by a "wow that′s so clear" moment as I took them through the content and reasons. "Why have I never heard of this book" is a response raised by colleagues and fellow scholars using actor-network theory? Again - the title is misleadingly narrow and a little faddish perhaps - implying a toolbox for cultural studies undergrads struggling with Foucault′s work and seeking a "how to". This book does a bit of that but does much more interesting things in other ways.
The student voices and examples are a little forced and trite at times - with made up dialogue grating on occasion - in particular in the conclusion but these are easily skipped.
However the writing is clear, accessible, and makes powerful and important points. An truly excellent but sadly likely to be missed due to mis-placed and mis- or narrowly-titled book.
An essential introduction to and synthesis of SSK, STS and ANT. I found this book a helpful companion in trying to understand texts on Foucault. It helps clarify some of the difficulties in full comprehension of those texts. This is an essential companion for any research student who has come into contact with Foucault. This text is highly accessible and encourages students to engage and apply Foucault′s ideas within their own research. The exercises included are a useful resource for tutors as well as highly motivated, independent students. Subsequent editions could revise some of these exercises to make them quicker to complete.