The most direct choices for reading Michel Foucault’s Society Must Be Defended are the paperback edition from Picador and the Penguin Modern Classics edition. Both are listed as Foucault’s lectures at the Collège de France; the Penguin edition specifies the 1975–76 lecture period. The other selections are related books about Foucault, not alternate editions of the lectures. Choose an edition of the lectures for the primary text, or a related title for biographical or broader context.
| Book | Best For | Format Listed |
|---|---|---|
| Society Must Be Defended (Collège de France, 5) | Readers seeking the lecture text | Paperback |
| Society Must Be Defended (Penguin Modern Classics) | Readers who want the dated lecture edition | Paperback |
| Michel Foucault: O governo da infância | Readers interested in a related Portuguese-language study | Kindle Edition |
| Michel Foucault (Great Thinkers) | Readers seeking a general introduction | Kindle Edition |
| Michel Foucault (French Edition) | Readers seeking a French-language biography | Kindle Edition |
Society Must Be Defended: Collège de France Edition
This paperback is identified as Society Must Be Defended, part of the Michel Foucault Lectures at the Collège de France series, number 5. It is the most direct choice in this list for a reader looking specifically for the lecture book rather than a secondary introduction.
Best for: Readers who want the named Collège de France volume in paperback. It was selected because its title and series information directly match the search. Limitation: The listing details provided do not specify the lecture dates or additional edition information, so check the book listing if those details matter to your choice.
Society Must Be Defended: Penguin Modern Classics
The Penguin Modern Classics paperback is listed as Society Must Be Defended: Lectures at the Collège de France, 1975–76. The date range makes this edition’s lecture period explicit in its title, which can help readers distinguish it from books about Foucault or other lecture collections.
Best for: Readers who want the lecture dates stated in the book title and prefer a paperback edition. It is a direct match for the requested work. Limitation: The supplied product details do not list differences in translation, notes, or pagination compared with the other paperback.
Michel Foucault: O Governo Da Infância
Haroldo de Resende’s Michel Foucault: O governo da infância is listed as a Portuguese Edition in Kindle format. Its title identifies a study focused on Foucault and the government of childhood, making it related reading rather than another edition of Society Must Be Defended.
Best for: Portuguese-reading Kindle users interested in a focused topic connected to Foucault. It was included for readers who want to explore a related subject alongside the primary text. Limitation: It is not the lecture book, and the listing does not indicate an English-language edition.
Michel Foucault: Great Thinkers
Christopher Mark Watkin’s Michel Foucault appears in the Great Thinkers series and is listed as a Kindle Edition. The title presents it as a book about Foucault broadly, rather than a text of the specific Collège de France lectures.
Best for: Readers seeking an introductory or contextual companion in digital format. The series title makes it a relevant option for someone who wants to approach Foucault’s work beyond one book. Limitation: The product details provided do not describe its level, subject coverage, or relationship to these particular lectures.
Michel Foucault: French Edition
Didier Eribon’s Michel Foucault is identified as a French Edition and listed in Kindle format. It offers a biographical route into Foucault’s life and work, while remaining distinct from the primary lecture text.
Best for: Readers comfortable reading French who want a biographical companion. It was selected as a related title for those seeking context about Foucault as an author and thinker. Limitation: It is not Society Must Be Defended, and the supplied details do not provide further information about the edition’s contents.
Buying Guide
Should you choose the Picador or Penguin paperback?
Both listings name the lecture book and identify a paperback format. The Penguin Modern Classics title explicitly gives the 1975–76 dates, while the other identifies the book as volume 5 in the Collège de France lecture series. If the dates are important for confirming the edition, the Penguin title provides that information upfront. If series numbering is more useful, consider the volume 5 listing. The product details provided do not establish other differences between the editions.
Do you want the primary text or a companion book?
Choose one of the two Society Must Be Defended paperbacks if your goal is to read the lectures. The other three books focus on Foucault more broadly or on a related subject. They may suit readers who want context, but the listings do not identify them as substitutes for the lecture text.
Which language and format fit your reading?
The two lecture selections are listed as paperbacks. The three related books are listed as Kindle Editions; one is specifically identified as Portuguese and another as French. Confirm the language and format on the listing before buying, particularly if you need a print copy or an English-language text.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which product is the actual Society Must Be Defended lecture book?
The first two products are editions of Society Must Be Defended. The other three are related books about Michel Foucault.
Which edition identifies the lecture dates?
The Penguin Modern Classics paperback includes “1975–76” in its title.
Are the listed editions paperbacks?
Both editions of Society Must Be Defended are listed as paperbacks.
Is O governo da infância an English edition?
The listing identifies it as a Portuguese Edition. The supplied details do not identify an English version.
Is Didier Eribon’s book the lecture text?
No. It is listed as a French Edition titled Michel Foucault, not as Society Must Be Defended.