The books that social workers should read include many that are well known and some that are newer. here’s our list of 10 that are must-reads for everyone! social workers constantly assess needs and support individuals and communities in need of help. It is a satisfying but challenging career. While experience brings knowledge and expertise, it’s also important to stay up-to-date through reading.
This list contains ten books every social worker should read. is a diverse list of self-care books for social workers as well as books related to the field of social work. there are books on relevant social work topics such as mental illness, trauma, and restorative justice. Be sure to make time to read these important books on social work.
You are reading: Books about social workers
1. Burnout and self-care in social work: a guide for students and individuals in mental health and related professions
Students entering the field of social work, as well as professionals who have been in the field for years, need to understand how to prevent burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary traumatic stress. these can become debilitating problems for people in the helping professions. Because highly empathetic people are in the helping professions, they are especially susceptible to becoming overwhelmed by the problems their clients face and the injustices they encounter in their daily work.
The author highlights the importance of “examining one’s life, reflecting on how one thinks about and approaches work, and maintains effective emotional boundaries.” she calls these “gifts to self,” which can help clinicians empathetically “stay with” their clients, without “taking on” their personal problems and suffering. by doing so, she believes it will lessen the potential for countertransference traps and vicarious traumatic stress.”
by: sarakay smullens
read the book
2. treatment of social work: intertwined theoretical approaches
This textbook was assigned by one of my professors in my doctoral program in social work. I included it in the list because it is an incredibly comprehensive, detailed, and comprehensive guide to most of the theoretical approaches used in social work practice and treatment. From cognitive behavioral theory to ecological theory, narrative theory, and ecopsychology, this text covers seminal and even newer theories used in social work practice. Social work professionals must be aware of and understand the theories behind their therapeutic approaches. This is not a book to read cover to cover, but it is an invaluable guide to understanding the theory behind the practice.
edited by francis j. turner
read the book
3. another day in the death of america: a chronicle of ten short lives
it seems like every few months there is a massacre with guns somewhere in the united states. this is the kind of gun violence that draws media attention; but what mr. Younge highlights in his book the daily cost of gun violence among America’s youth. it’s gang violence, little kids who were in the wrong place at the wrong time, and accidental shootings.
This type of armed violence has been present for decades and is what takes our statistics of deaths by weapons to levels unknown in other developed countries. Mr. Younge recounts the gun deaths of ten young Americans that illustrate how absurd and tragic each death is.
by: gary younge
read the book
4. Insane Consequences: How the Mental Health Industry Fails the Mentally Ill
See Also: Wiley Cash – Book Series In Order
Our current system for treating and managing persistent and debilitating mental illness in this country is failing. our prisons house the chronically mentally ill and our current inpatient and outpatient mental health system cannot meet the demand for treatment and services.
We have large numbers of mentally ill people living on the streets of our towns, suburbs, and cities. our inpatient hospital system is overwhelmed and there are not enough providers in our outpatient treatment centers, especially in cities and rural areas. This book provides ideas for reforming the mental health care system to better serve people who so desperately need humane treatment and understanding.
by: dj jaffe
read the book
5. leading from the outside: how to build your future and make real change
A leader in politics, business, and the nonprofit world, Stacey Abrams is a woman to watch. She most recently served as Minority Leader in the Georgia House of Representatives and ran for Governor of Georgia. During her campaign, Abrams fought hard against voter suppression. she lost by a very narrow margin to her opponent, but she didn’t give the typical concession speech. instead, she accepted that the legal process in which purging of voter lists and other voter suppression tactics was litigated was declared the winner.
later, he continued as a leader in the fight against voter suppression and for voter empowerment. In this book, Abrams shares her insights on how being a leading woman of color, an “outsider,” and how leading from the outside can make you stronger and give you a unique voice that is heard and appreciated.
by: stacey abrams
read the book
6. the restorative justice booklet: revised and updated
mr. Zehr is one of the founders of the restorative justice movement in the US. uu. Restorative justice incorporates a process that allows the victim to confront her perpetrator, discuss the impact the crime has had on her life, and forgive the person if she wishes. it is not a process of letting someone who has done something wrong get away with it, but rather a process of helping the victim take control of the situation, including when and how to forgive. the process also allows those who have done wrong to make amends in some way, whether through an apology, offering details about the crime that only they can give, or providing some kind of support to their victim. it’s a movement that shows no signs of slowing down and can even be adapted for use in schools.
by: howard zehr
read the book
7. the rise of robots: technology and the threat of a jobless future
By 2030, half of our current jobs could be a thing of the past. this is not to say that there will not be new jobs arising due to automation and artificial intelligence. But people who can’t retrain or just don’t have the education to do tech repair work, for example, will be left behind. according to this book, it doesn’t have to be a complete doomsday scenario of extreme inequality and instability in society
However, with the right planning, thinking and imagination, society can be better off in this new emerging economy with people having more free time and less stress. however, it will take many human minds, including the thought and action of social workers, to arrive at this happier ending.
See Also: Best Catholic Books of All-Time
by: martin ford
read the book
8. the body keeps score: brain, mind and body in trauma healing
bessel van der kolk, psychiatrist and academic, furthers understanding of how traumatic experiences and memories become trapped in the body. In this classic book on trauma, van der Kolk explains the neuroscience of trauma and how treatment must integrate a mind-body approach.
The book explores personal stories of trauma, resilience and recovery and the pervasive impact of trauma on societies around the world. it also suggests specific approaches to help patients overcome trauma and live more fulfilling lives. is a must-read for social workers who want to work with traumatized people.
by: bessel van der kolk, m.d.
read the book
9. the new jim crow: mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness
This book is fast becoming a classic. explores the many ways modern incarceration has put a disproportionate number of black men and women behind bars and disenfranchised them, and how this system of oppression is no different from the days of jim crow when discrimination was legal and accepted. is a must-read for social workers interested in reforming the prison industry to fix the criminal justice system.
by: michelle alexander
read the book
10. What the Eyes Can’t See: A Story of Crisis, Resistance, and Hope in an American City
If you’re not yet familiar with the story of how thousands of children and adults were poisoned by their own drinking water in Flint, Michigan, or if you know the story but want to know more, this is a must see. read the book. dr Hanna-Attisha learned from a friend who worked for the EPA that the water in Flint may have high levels of lead due to corrosion in the pipes that supply the community with water.
She saw no symptoms of lead poisoning in her young patients, because there are none. so she began to analyze her blood and found that the population had high levels of the metal. Lead poisoning seriously affects the healthy brain development of children. The author has been a leading voice in educating her community and the country on how the negligence of public officials led to the poisoning of an entire community.
by: mona hanna-attisha, m.d.
read the book
related:
See Also: The 20 Best Books About American History – History Hustle
- social workers, resilience and courage?
- what do social workers need to know about restorative justice?
- social workers and trauma?
- what is child welfare social work?