Social Book Club - History and Society Circle - Madness and Civilization

Welcome to the History and Society Circle part of the Social Book Club! Each month, we meet to talk about a book chosen by you!

This month’s book is: Madness and Civilization: A History of Insanity in the Age of Reason by Michel Foucault
(~300 pages). To join, you should have read the book. It's okay if you didn't have the time to finish :)

DE: Wahnsinn und Gesellschaft

Book description:

A history of how Western society has understood and treated madness, from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. Initially, fools were left to wander, then locked away in institutions, and eventually treated with medicine and psychiatry. The author focuses on how ideas about madness are shaped by society and how power, knowledge, and institutions affect the way people are treated. The book is very dense at times and sits at the intersection of philosophy, history, and psychology.

How to get the book:

• ebook: morawa/thalia/amazon
• physical copy: amazon/thalia

We meet at Hotel Schani Salon in Mariahilferstraße 58 on the 2nd floor (ring the Hotel if the entrance is locked). To support the hotel, you can get drinks there.