while reading this I realized I wasn't
a. clever enough
b. insane enough or
c. exposed to the proper intellectual background
to fully understand modern philosophy.

being that Foucault a long with Gilles Deleuze and now Jean Baudrillard are considered the most important 'philosophers' ie thinkers of the 20th century, I feel like an utter failure. I feel like I've failed my parents, my friends, my family, but overall myself because I chose to study I literally know nothing about. I have no sense of proper philosophical debate, I'm merely a dilettante, possibly even studying it as a unconscious rebellion against my working-class store-owners and too attractive to think type family. Or maybe i'm just pathetic because I surrounded myself with apathy for too long. Regardless, after reading this I understand why many people consider Michel Foucault a monster, full of conspiracy theories, always on the wrong side of politics and overall, and a freak. However, when I read it I really did enjoy his 'Madness & Civilization' so many i'm just too hard on myself. Introducing books are great, Piro is an absolutley terrific graphic designer but it may not always be the best bet on being introduced to a philosopher. at least, not in this case. the Nietzsche one was better. ( )