Book Review: Making People Welcome: The Source Book of Diversity

Making People Welcome: The Source Book of Diversity
Naomi Barber, Directory of Social Change,
ISBN 1903991617, £35

STAR RATING: 2/5

This is a book that aims to act as “an aid to recognising and
appreciating diversity in your organisation”, writes
Vijay Patel.

It guides you through physical and mental well-being; faith,
religion and philosophy; cultural distinctiveness and demographic
groups.

Within each section issues are covered within two pages of A4,
including sources for further information.

Section one is the most helpful in covering disability. The
sections on different geographic groups and demographic groups were
at best unhelpful. Using headings such as subcontinent, and making
generalisations about Africans, North Americans and so on is
meaningless. So, as a result, section four has little value.

The intention is good but I struggled with this overall. It’s not
one I’d envisage being my first source of knowledge.

Vijay Patel works for the Scottish executive and is a
former trainer in race equality and diversity
.