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Edited by Adrian Adams, Peter Erath and Steven M Shardlow.
Russell House Publishing
£14.95
ISBN 1 898924 69 4

This is the third of three books on European social work written by participants in the multinational Socrates programme of the European Union.

The latest text is more theoretical and analytical in style than the others, but it has an emphasis on linking theory with practice and social work training.

In a book of 114 pages there are 11 short chapters on a range of topics, including the role of social policy in social work; social work theory; ethics and social work; the importance of law to social work practice; and social work as a career. The chapters typically relate the general topic to the situation of a particular country and do so with a fair degree of success.

This book is a useful addition to the increasing literature on European social services and social work. Students in particular will welcome the breadth and variety of subjects included, together with the questions at the end of chapters to stimulate further study.

Readers may be less pleased with the unfortunate lapses from plain English in some of the writing of the editorial team, which detracts a little from an otherwise well written and concise book.

Brian Munday is senior lecturer in international social care, University of Kent at Canterbury.