This first book in the series, Brummie Girls do Social Work, takes a realistic down-to-earth look at day-to-day Social Work practice and the daily dilemmas faced by practitioners. It takes the form of a collection of short, colourful episodes based on the authors' personal experiences - a light hearted approach to a serious subject. It gives invaluable insights into the profession, showing how variable each day can be and the complex challenges that arise. Each episode finishes with a number of tips for Social Workers already in the profession and for newly qualified Social Workers and students, to help them be prepared for any situation. |
Available from YouCaxton £10.00 (+ £2 postage) Number of copies: |
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Category Archives: Non-Fiction
A realistic look at day-to-day Social Work
Funny Quotes about Marriage
Aubrey Malone
For brides-to-be, bridesmaids, brides and ex-brides, this book is for you. Marriage begins when you sink in his arms and ends with your arms in his sink. It begins with a knight in shining armour kissing a princess and ends with a bald fat man sitting across the table from a dishwasher. Put another way, marriage has three rings attached to it: engagement ring, wedding ring, suffering. If you’re thinking of going up the aisle anytime soon, this rib-tickling collection of quotes will make you think again. From the dangers of pre-nups to the horrors of stag (and hen) parties to the dating scene to the perils of s-e-x to the Big Day itself, this is a must-have book for the marriage-shy among you to have by your side. Just to remind you that it’s not all happyeveraftering when Mr Right – or Mr Always in the Right – slips the wedding band around the fourth finger of your left hand and swears undying troth. |
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Sample, these bite-sized chunks of wit and wisdom from the Walking
Wounded, those turbulent souls who’ve ventured through the tunnel of
love and lived to tell the tale. You may never want to meet a member
of the opposite gender afterwards but at least you’ll have fun getting
put off the hairy so-and-soes - or not. |
The Horse Leads the Way- Honoring the True Role of the Horse in Equine Facilitated Practice
Angela Dunning
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Available from Author Website Also Available from Amazon Amazon |
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Angela is a sensitive, intuitive horsewoman. She is also a healer, teacher, writer, community worker and consummate holder of sacred space. She delivers private sessions, talks, workshops, taster sessions, supervision, mentoring and training. She specializes in supporting women through navigating their own personal growth, reconnecting to their bodies, and reclaiming their true essence. Angela lives in Herefordshire, England and delivers her work in the UK and abroad by invitation. Angela's website is www.thehorsestruth.co.uk |
Juli Lynch, Ph.D. Author of The Personality Archetypes of Horsemanship and The Seven Aspects of Human and Horse Transformation and founder of Epala, an equine facilitated coaching and counseling program.
“I LOVE this book. The Horse Leads the Way is a deeply significant and important book that finally outlines clearly the need to honor the horse as the lead facilitator in equine facilitated work. It challenges paradigms that have placed the horse in the role of an object to be acted upon by human facilitators and clients in this growing field, and puts forth a compelling and beautifully written perspective that sees the horse as a sentient being, who is capable beyond a doubt to enter into an inter-species relationship of equality with humans. This book asks those of us working in the field to look deeply within ourselves first and foremost, to seek our own transformation so that we can stand alongside our clients as interpreters and guides – as witnesses to profound processes that horses can and will offer when allowed and honored for who they truly are. This book will be required reading in all my equine facilitated training programs.”
Mike Delaney, Director of LEAP
“I believe that Angela’s book is a true testament to her beliefs that we must treat our equine friends with the love and respect that they deserve and as equal partners and not simply as a ‘useful tool’. You will feel Angela’s empathy and passion on every page. It is an extremely thought provoking and at times challenging read as it asks questions that, as professionals, we should be asking ourselves in order to build the most authentic and compassionate relationship with our horses. This book poses strong questions about how we treat our equine partners and if we value enough their staggering contribution. Do we appreciate this? Do we value them enough? Do we treat them as equal partners or ‘tools’ to be picked up and discarded as required? I believe that Angela’s insights are powerful and are a breath of fresh air in today’s equine assisted world. Some may even find it a difficult read as it really questions what we do, but I would urge everyone to read it and take from it what you need to improve your professional practice and the lives of your horses; ultimately creating a more valuable and positive experience for our clients.”
Amazon Review
This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to include horses in any kind of interventions intended to benefit humans, whether for therapy, personal development or learning. Angela's perspective comes from a deep lifelong connection with horses and her practical and encouraging approach leaves us with no excuse for not questioning and reflecting on our own practice - valuing the horses as central to this work. I would highly recommend this book for those who are new to equine facilitated work and for those who have been doing it for many years. There is always more to learn.
Amazon Review
Employing an engaging mixture of practical advice and personal stories, this book covers wide ranging areas in this developing field of work. The author deals with complex topics sensitively, clearly and with a passion which always keeps the reader interested
England’s ‘love affair’ with the natural world over the last two hundred years.
Ian Alexander
The English Love Affair with Nature tells the story of this extraordinarily long, tangled and passionate romance, how we fell in love, and why we are still mad about nature. www.obsessedbynature.com |
And on Kindle Pay with PayPal £12.50 (+ £2 postage) |
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Passionate landscapes with an engaging guide
Ian Alexander introduces his theme with a wink ..'the facts alone can be dry- but the bump and grind are not easy to put into words after the event.' So we can expect a factual account of the development of awareness of Nature – matched with a love affair. He's set himself a hard task – and he succeeds remarkably. Historically he describes the English using Newtonian science to liberate themselves from the mental constraints of a medieval God-centred universe. This uncovers the combined potential of the quest for discovery and also reveals Nature in the raw as it were, fit to be wooed and pursued. The scope of this passionate quest is phenomenal: from romantic poetry to village dogshows, from Victorian collectors to naval camouflage, traditional rural scenes to technical advancement. To a non-expert the research is impressively rigorous and credible. However, this is not a catalogue; more of a ramble - discursive, unevenly paced according to the ground covered, with pauses for perspective or reflection. Our author /guide keeps us company with beautifully described vignettes of natural observation; - lending a beguilingly personal quality to big themes. It is inevitably episodic- the kind of book that could be dipped into- but I found the story thread strong enough to keep me engaged from start to finish.
late eighteenth century the English people have been in love with nature
Ian Alexander’s book investigates the premise that since the late eighteenth century the English people have been in love with nature; with leisure time and literacy increasing and a rising number of available books about nature the love affair grew and with the population’s migration into the cities to fuel the industrial revolution’s need for workers the prevailing attitude altered from taking nature for granting to idealising it. Starting with the publication of Gilbert White’s ‘Natural History of Selborne’ and Thomas Bewick’s ‘A History of British Birds’ the relationship with nature is explored through a bewildering number of sources such as nineteenth century scientific pioneers Charles Lyell, Alfred Russell-Wallace and Charles Darwin but also landscape gardeners, romantic poets and modern children’s authors amongst many others. Another theme of the book is the multi-faceted nature of the word ‘nature’, from harsh agricultural drudgery to idealised rural fantasy and from the viewpoints of both individuals and society. Controversies over the age of the Earth and evolution are examined, brought to public attention by the developing sciences of geology, palaeontology and taxonomy. The growth of the conservation movement from the end of the nineteenth century is also explored. The discussions are framed by the author’s own observations of nature, clearly communicating his passion for the subject. The chronology, dramatis personae and bibliography provide an effective aid to further research on the ideas the book raises.
Call for new values to govern the relationship between humanity and our planet.
Patrick Duncan
THIS BOOK, written fifty years ago, was among the first calls for a new system of values to govern the relationship between humanity and our planet. It has at least two claims on our attention. First, it contains a passionate and reasoned plea for the rights of non-human life. Second, Patrick Duncan proposes a new ethic which might enable fractious humanity to come together and help save the world from disaster. His biography was written by C.J.Driver Patrick Duncan: South African and Pan-African. James Currey (2000). See also: wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Duncan (anti-apartheid_activist) |
Available from Amazon and Kindle Buy from YouCaxton (UK only) £10.00 (+ £2 postage) |
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Man and the Earth is being republished fifty years on, because of its continuing relevance to some of the greatest global public policy challenges of the 21st century: the impact of humanity on our environment (climate change, biodiversity loss, etc.), and inequality of opportunity. The book makes exhilarating reading when Duncan describes the beauty of the world and human creativity. He does not flinch when reacting against the destructive side of humanity, and his anger and disgust are reminiscent of Swift. This is deeply personal, and many readers will disagree with some of his analyses. They will also be surprised, charmed, and moved. |
... This book suggests an ethical approach which might serve to unite humanity ... I hope it will be read by all those who believe that the present philosophy of maximisation must be replaced by a new concept of high-quality human living ...
Reviews...
Dr. George Monbiot, Writer and Journalist at The Guardian
This is a remarkably prescient book. Written at a time when technological optimism appeared to sweep all before it,
Man and the Earth identifies some of the great themes that later came to dominate.
Cormac Cullinan, environmental activist, lawyer and author of Wild Law
Man and the Earth is a book for the 21st Century which explains with great clarity why humanity cannot prosper unless we unite behind a common ethic centred on what is of greatest value to us all – Earth. The clarity, breadth and foresight of Patrick Duncan’s analysis and proposals for a way forward are all the more extraordinary for having been written in the 1960s. With the benefit of half of century of hindsight his discussions of ideology, population increase, global warming, the depletion of the ozone layer, the destruction of wild places, and the extinction of species seem prophetic. Yet global society is only now beginning to explore the solutions that he proposed. Only in the last few decades have serious attempts been made to determine the “budgets” that he proposed for establishing the ecologically sustainable limits of human impacts. Even more recent is the emergence of a global movement that advance his insight that it is essential to embrace the establishment of a balance and harmony between humanity and rest of the community of life as the purpose of life, and that achieving this requires fostering our inherent love of Earth. The fate of most, even all, of humanity will be decided during the first half of this Century. One of the best ways of enhancing our prospects is to read and act on Duncan’s insights. The Duncan family deserve credit for republishing a book that was so ahead of its time, now, when its time has come.
Satish Kumar, Editor-in-Chief, Resurgence & Ecologist magazine and Founder, Schumacher College
Patrick Duncan was a prophet ahead of his time. His seminal book, Man and the Earth is at once visionary, profound and practical. Patrick Duncan reminds us again and again that we mistreat our planet home at our peril. Man and the Earth is a lucid engaging read, wisdom and deep insight leaps out of every page. The essential message of the book is very simple and clear; take care of the earth and the earth will take care of you. Furthermore, Patrick Duncan makes it clear that nature is not merely a resource for our economy, nature is the source of life. Even though the book was written 50 years ago, it is as relevant today as it was then.
Essential skills for improving essay-writing and exam technique.
Kyriacos Papasavva
Based on a decade long experience in teaching, Kyriacos Papasavva helps you develop the essential skills which will enable you to improve your essay writing and exam technique, and therefore succeed at university. Uniquely, this guide merges everyday study skills with a critical approach to your studies; required for philosophy, theology and ethics students particularly. This guide will help you: Understand marking criteria at university. Write well-structured essays. Develop a critical & reflective study skills approach. Manage your time throughout the academic year. And much more. |
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Reviews...
Healing the Hurts of Capitalism
Micheline Mason and Alan Sprung
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Healing the Hurts of Capitalism From Isolation to Connection How do we break old habits and routines that stop us making progress? In organising politically, how do we escape ways of doing things that are either self-defeating or out of date? Those involved in radical politics frequently put their heads in their hands in despair as old habits die hard – too often they are as destructive as ever. Or attempts to break the mould seem as eccentric and counter-productive as the patterns they would replace. It seems that we are on rails, travelling to a destination that has already been determined. How to escape? Let’s open the book and see what Micheline and Alan suggest … Ken Loach – Film maker Micheline Mason is an artist, writer and activist. For over forty-five years she was part of an international organisation of people who developed a simple but profound way to help each other to recover from past emotional injuries. In this community she helped develop the theory and became a teacher of the method, exchanging attention with thousands of people in many different countries. In her ‘retirement’ she has chosen to share what she learnt with as many people as possible with a view to empowering them to continue the work themselves. She lives in London. |
Reviews...
Thoughtful and Different
Healing the Hurts of Capitalism offers an interesting explanation of why the capitalist system remains the status quo and why attempts to change it result in failure. Rather than dwelling on economics and politics it tackles the downside of capitalism from the standpoint of our own psychological distress ‘patterns’. Patterns are entrenched behaviour patterns which result from past hurts and they dictate our responses to the world around us and to our own relationships and situations in ways that are less than appropriate or helpful. ‘Patterns’ such as the pursuit of excessive wealth, compulsive shopping to make us feel better, addictions, fearing people different from ourselves, competitiveness, feelings of isolation and powerlessness are bad for us as individuals but en masse they prevent our own growth and the growth of civilisation into something more humane, more sustainable, more cooperative and more equal. A good and interesting read and very accessible unlike many books on the subject.
Susan Harris - Great Read
Wow what a brilliant book and it is written in very accessible way. It has a new approach using a diverse group of peoples personal experiences and thinking to illustrate the impact of Capatalism in their lives.. This makes it a a wonderful alternative to the academic explanations. It brings clarity to the complexities and mechanics of the present system and offers ways to support each other to build a better society.
Stefan Szczelkun
Many of us who have experienced peer counselling, or perhaps have been through a process of recovery from addictions or trauma with the intensive use of professional counselling, have a political insight into the way that the forces that hold our class system together are embedded in us from an early age. The political landscape is founded on feelings of superiority and inferiority that don’t seem to be accessible to rational analysis or challenge.
There are many thousands of people scattered through the population that have acquired these insights over the last 30 or 40 years but communicating them to the rest of the world has not happened. Part of the difficulty may have been that the knowledge gained through live and emotionally charged interaction does not translate into words on a page or screen. The clever thing that the authors of ‘Healing the Hurts of Capitalism’ have done is to base their book on transcriptions from a series of listening workshops in which the participants respond to questions about their experiences in relation to capitalism. The many quotations from these workshops give the reader an stronger idea of the process that is being proposed. In fact the book ends with a chapter on how to set up a successful listening group.
The idea is to infuse grass roots politics with a process of communication that could liberate us from the stultifying effects of the everyday oppressions we have been subject to and that have limited our power. Its an ambitious book that is written in very accessible language. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to find a more caring form of political practice.
Books by Micheline Mason... An Ordinary Baby Healing The Hurts of Capitalism The Phenomenon of the Human Distress Pattern |
The Farmer, The Coal merchant, The Baker
Liz Barclay
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Buy on Amazon |
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The stories of breeders Henk Nijhof and Johan Venderbosch and trainers Roeli Bril and Jan Oortveld, men she knew, or knew of, during her youth in Gelderland, give a wonderful impression, not only of how life was, but also how life changed.
Starting with the breeding lines of Totilas and Valegro as the prime examples of the Dutch breeding success, the book, with Liz’s younger years as the common thread, gives owners of a Dutch sport horse anywhere in the world the chance to connect the breeding papers of their warmblood to this heartwarming tale of some brave Gelderland horsemen, who dared to stick their neck out, never shy of taking a little risk. |