From aesthetics to the penal system, and from madness and civilization to avant-garde literature, Foucault was happy to reject old models of thinking and replace them with fresh versions that are still being debated today. A major influence on Queer Theory and gender studies (he was openly gay and died of an AIDS-related illness in 1984), he also wrote on architecture, history, law, medicine, literature, politics, and of course philosophy. He even managed to write a best seller in France on a book dedicated to the history of systems of thought. Because he never succinctly stated his arguments, those trying to come to terms with Foucault's work have desperately sought introductory material to make his theories clear and accessible for the beginner. Here, Gary Gutting presents a comprehensive but non-systematic treatment of some highlights of Foucault's life and thought. The book begins with a brief biography to set the social and political stage. It then moves on to touch on Foucault's thoughts on literature, in particular the avant-garde scene, his philosophical and historical work and the reception he received from the historical community, his treatment of knowledge and power in modern society, and his thoughts on sexuality.

从美学到刑法制度，从疯狂和文明到前卫文学，福柯乐于拒绝旧的思维模式，并以今天仍在辩论的新版本取而代之。作为对同性恋理论和性别研究的主要影响者（他是公开的同性恋者，1984年死于与艾滋病有关的疾病），他还写过建筑、历史、法律、医学、文学、政治，当然还有哲学。他甚至成功地在法国写了一本专门介绍思想体系史的畅销书。由于他从未简明扼要地阐述过自己的论点，那些试图了解福柯作品的人拼命地寻找介绍性材料，以使他的理论对初学者来说清晰易懂。在这里，加里-古廷对福柯的生活和思想的一些亮点进行了全面但非系统的处理。本书从一个简短的传记开始，以设定社会和政治舞台。然后，它继续触及福柯对文学的想法，特别是先锋派的场景，他的哲学和历史工作以及他从历史界得到的接待，他对现代社会中知识和权力的处理，以及他对性的想法。