Abstract
Neil Thompson and Gerry Cox have edited a book that focuses on resilience – a topic which has received considerable attention in the social work field. The book has 30 short, concise chapters written by a range of international contributors from throughout the world, some of whom have social work backgrounds. The book is aimed at social workers, psychotherapists, counsellors, community workers, probation and prison officers, clergy and other helping professionals. The book has a strong sociological orientation, while emphasising the significance of adversity, vulnerability, loss and resilience issues. It is organised into two parts. The first part focuses on understanding resilience; it comprises one chapter written by the editors about making sense of resilience. The second part comprises –29 chapters focused on wide-ranging aspects of developing resilience in a large number of situations and settings, across the life course, and in work with, for example, tragedies, terrorism, structural contexts, communities, organisations, families and service user ‘groups’. Resilience is also considered from a number of perspectives such as spirituality, pastoral care and meaning making.
In reading any edited collection with a large number of rather short chapters, individual readers will have their own particular interests that they can examine, while also exploring and expanding their knowledge and understanding by considering aspects with which they are less familiar. I suspect many readers will tend to ‘dip into’ this book, to read particular chapters and then be drawn into reading about other topics. The first chapter provides a very helpful, thorough comprehensive overview by setting the scene for what follows. I found the continued attention given to ‘the social’, power issues, empowerment, meaning and purpose to be particular helpful when considering resilience. I also found some of the short chapters added significantly to my own knowledge and understanding of resilience. For instance, at the moment, I have a particular, in-depth interest in both compassion and resilience. I found the chapter on this topic to be both thought provoking and rewarding, with the willingness of the author Darcy Harris to consider collective compassion in organisations and communities and link that with resilience.
Although this book is not directed only at social workers, the chapters consider topics which are of considerable relevance to social workers – some of them very directly so. It has a great deal to offer readers. My only criticism is of a minor nature. For instance, although not always in favour of ‘boxes’, which include summaries and learning exercises, in my opinion, because of the short chapters, it might have been helpful to see a guide to particular, further, resources at the end of each chapter, in addition to a set of references. However, this is a minor criticism of a book that is both thought provoking and mind expanding, as it brings new, stimulating perspectives to the topic of resilience; it is a most welcome addition to the existing literature.