Beginnings, Middles, & Ends reviewed in Journal of Social Work Values & Ethics Fall 2013

Beginnings, Middles, & Ends: Sideways Stories on the Art & Soul of Social Work was reviewed in the Fall 2013 edition of the Journal of Social Work Values & Ethics, released this week.

Reviewer Stephen M. Marson, Ph.D., who is also editor of the journal, said in part:

The mood that the author sets is the best aspect of this book. It reminds me of the mood set by the writers of the TV show MASH. There is a mixture of drama and comedy that is perfectly blended to capture the attention of a casual reader. I found the entire book a joy to read. Personally, I found it therapeutic. 

 He also called the book "a profound piece of creative literature that will reinstill idealism within senior social workers who are on the threshold of being cynical about their work."

Read the full review at: Journal of Social Work Values & Ethics, Fall 2013 edition.

More Reviews for Beginnings, Middles, & Ends

Since Beginnings, Middles, & Ends: Sideways Stories on the Art & Soul of Social Work was released almost a month ago, the book has continued to receive favorable reviews.

Today, we heard from Bradford Sheafor, author of social work textbooks over the past three decades. Here's what he had to say:

“Many textbooks, including my own, carefully describe social work and what social workers do. Few of these books, however, capture art and heart required when applying the knowledge, values, and skills of this important profession. Ogden Rogers, in Beginnings, Middles, & Ends: Sideways Stories on the Art & Soul of Social Work, provides a masterful complement to the existing texts. Although usually not labeled as such, in each of his stories a critical value, principle, or guideline for social work practice is illustrated. My thought after reading each story was, “Yes!!! That is what social work is all about.” Further, Rogers’ unabashed enthusiasm for this profession is indeed a welcome addition to the social work literature.”

Bradford W. Sheafor, Ph.D. 

Professor Emeritus, Colorado State University 

 

 

A customer on Amazon.com, L.M. Ferro, said this about the book:

"LOVE THIS BOOK! I shared it with my interns who are young social workers. I would HIGHLY recommend it! Makes a great gift for social workers."

 

The book was well-received at the recent Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Annual Program Meeting, where Rogers was on hand to autograph copies.

The book is available at Amazon.com in print and Kindle editions, as well as at White Hat Communications' online store. 

 

Order now for holiday and graduation gift-giving, or put it on your own wishlist!

 

 

Beginnings, Middles, & Ends Reviewed by Social Justice Solutions

Beginnings, Middles, & Ends: Sideways Stories on the Art & Soul of Social Work has received another great review! Published on October 7, the review and interview appears on the Social Justice Solutions site.

Reviewer Victoria Brewster captured the essence of the book in her review and interview of both the author and the publisher.  She says:

"Seasoned or more experienced social workers will be nodding their heads and smiling while remembering their own beginnings in the field. Social work students will see the book as a wonderful learning opportunity and get an idea of what lies ahead and those relatively new to the profession will ‘see’ or ‘be’ a mixture of the two" 

She asked author Ogden Rogers to summarize his book. His response:

"I like to say the book is sort of like 'The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Social Work Universe' meets 'Everything I needed to learn I learned in Social Work School'… The book is a collection of 99 stories, some of them quite short (I call them 'potato chips') that reflect beginnings, middles, and ends- mostly about social work relationships.... The idea is that there might be something in any story to think, feel, or resonate with the reader."

Brewster asked Linda Grobman, the book's publisher, why she chose to publish this book. Grobman said, in part:

"Simply put, I loved it...in the early to mid-90s...that’s when I 'discovered' the brilliance of his writing. I first published one of his pieces in 1995 [in The New Social Worker]. This book...is very real—he’s willing to write about mistakes he made along the way and how he learned from them, so others can learn from them, too. But he also uses an artistic story-telling approach to show readers how social workers can think outside the box to come up with creative ways to find solutions to problems."

Read the full review and interview here.

To purchase Beginnings, Middles, & Ends:
White Hat Communications Online Store (publisher's site)
Amazon.com (print)
Amazon.com (Kindle)

Beginnings, Middles, & Ends -- New Developments and Buzz!

As we approach the "official" publication date of October 15, Beginnings, Middles, & Ends: Sideways Stories on the Art & Soul of Social Work is getting some "buzz" around the Internet and offline, too.  Here are some recent developments:

• Book review and interview with author Ogden Rogers, Social Work Career Development blog, September 25, 2013, blogger DorleeM called the book "a most enjoyable and inspiring reading about life as a social worker."

• Radio interview with author Ogden Rogers, WRFW (http://www.pureradio887.com), September 26, 2013, 5:30 p.m. CST

Additional reviews and interviews are forthcoming, so please stay tuned to this site!