Fascinating, almost gripping read. While best known for the back half, on the Panopticon and the origin of the prison as the predominant judicial punishment, I found the first half, on the rise of a culture of discipline across the school, barracks and hospital, of the disciplinary society focused on meticulous procedure and recordkeeping, much more interesting (and personally useful in my work).

For anyone remotely interested in the rise of modern institutions of control and indoctrination, let alone the prison system, this is a remarkably pleasant and essential read.