This book provides an interesting and thought-provoking way to learn more about one’s self-identity through a multicultural perspective. The authors use the idea that the identified groups we belong to have a meaningful impact on how we see ourselves and our interactions with others. Due to the increasingly diverse society in which we live, we must utilize multiculturalism. This concept allows for a more inclusive way to connect and identify groups beside race and ethnicity. The book stresses the importance of viewing multiple cultures through a broader context including gender, age, religion, class, sexual orientation, and abilities. Viewing these factors as a connection and ability to learn rather than a method to separate is at the heart of the multicultural perspective. This book addresses multiculturalism through the eyes of several ethnicities by examining self-identity and what it means to be an American. The authors do a good job setting up...

Due to the ever-changing needs of clients and communities, the social work profession must build on its strengths and foundation to move forward and solve our current problems. This book aims to debunk the misconception that social good and innovation are incompatible with entrepreneurialism by providing a framework for social work practice in the 21st century global landscape. This edited volume uses a progressive approach by applying the concepts of social entrepreneurship and social innovation to social work practice perspectives, areas, and strategies. The book is divided into two parts. In the first part, conceptual definitions and principles of social value creation, social entrepreneurship, social innovation, and social intrapreneurship are provided along with a discussion of their connection to ethics and practice in social work. The second part uses a global perspective by providing examples of social workers around the world engaged in intrapreneurship, innovation, and social entrepreneurship. Part 1 is broken down into five chapters. The first chapter gives an overview and detailed explanation of all the key concepts. Before defining the concepts, it is important to understand that social value creation and social innovation are key components of the intrapreneurship and social entrepreneurship (SE) processes. The editors do an excellent job of walking the reader through their approach by defining the concept, linking it to social work, providing evidence to support their application, identifying skills needed by social workers, and highlighting how the approach abides by the social work code of ethics. For example, the book defines SE as “the creation of institutions through entrepreneurial thinking that are guided by social work ethics and based on the integration of social service, business and public relation skills” (Bent-Goodley, 2002, p. 291). SE can be seen as behaviors to help carry out the agency’s mission by establishing relationships with both public-sector and for-profit organizations. Specific skills such as administrative, social, policy advocacy, and community development are needed to help achieve this process. These skills are also connected to the code of ethics, particularly standard 3.07, “Administration,” which calls on social workers to build organizations that advocate resource allocation that is rooted in fairness and equity and to create environments where social workers can optimally engage in practice. This is one example of the connection between defining, applying, identifying, and connecting these key concepts within the social work field. The remaining chapters in Part 1 build on this foundation by addressing the following topics: innovation and creativity in nonprofits, social innovation and social work practice, financial inclusion and social entrepreneurship, and macropractice and its relationship to social innovation.

One of the cornerstones of education is to help prepare students to enter the workforce. As the makeup of the workforce is always changing, educators must also adapt their teaching methodologies to ensure students meet the needs of the current workforce. Perspectives on Interprofessional Education and Practice examines the growing need for interprofessional education (IPE) and practice for students and workers across a multitude of disciplines. In the introduction, Carmen Morano discusses the book’s purpose and the value of findings, and sets the tone and organization for the rest of the book. Throughout, contributors from different universities and disciplines provide key information on IPE. It is critical as a person reads any book to know the background of the author, editor, and contributors because they each provide a unique and valuable perspective on the book. Carmen Morano is a professor at the Silberman School of Social Work and director of...

Journal Article Pathways to Success through Identity-Based Motivation Get access Pathways to Success through Identity-Based Motivation. Daphna Oyserman. New York: Oxford University Press, 2015, 312 pages. ISBN: 978-0-19-534146-1. $45.00 paperback. Scott Sainato Scott Sainato LMSW University of Texas at Arlington scott.sainato@mavs.uta.edu Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Social Work, Volume 61, Issue 3, July 2016, Pages 284–285, https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/sww031 Published: 28 April 2016

Improved elder health and longevity, coupled with lower birth rates, is increasing the proportion of older people in the U.S. population. Those age 65 years and older comprised 9.8 percent of the population in 1970, 13 percent in 2010, and (expected) 20 percent by 2030 (Ortman, Velkoff, & Hogan, 2014). Though healthier than previous generations, today’s elders may have special issues including chronic illness and isolation. Technology, including online social networks, holds promise for improving elders’ quality of life. Chronic diseases may prematurely take elders out of the labor market and increase their dependence on others for meeting their basic needs. The most prevalent health issues elders face include arthritis, heart disease, cancer, respiratory diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, influenza/pneumonia, falls and other injuries, obesity, depression, oral health, and poverty (Vann, 2014). In addition, elders may experience psychological issues such as anxiety and substance abuse (Ginsberg & DiGilio, 2015). Depending on their health, elders may become limited in their ability to experience social situations. Numerous studies show that socially isolated elders are more at risk for adverse health issues, including loneliness, dementia, increased hospitalizations, and falls (Anderson, 2013).

Social phobia is a fear that many people have experienced at some point in their lives. This book examines this disorder through an interpersonal approach. Stravynski articulates why social phobia can only be described in interpersonal terms. The organization of the book is well done and broken into five distinct parts: (1) conceptual framework, (2) defining social phobia, (3) causes of social phobia, (4) application of the interpersonal approach, and (5) conclusion. This layout gives the reader a step-by-step process to understand social phobia and apply the principles of interpersonal approach through assessment and treatment. This book is helpful to any therapist, researcher, or anyone experiencing social phobia. At the beginning of each chapter, the author explains his goals or specific ideas he wants the reader to come away with. Chapter 1 focuses on the theoretical framework Stravynski proposes. First, he defines interpersonal as “characteristics of an individual through dynamic interaction” (p. 18). The author describes a socially phobic person as being prone to fear and commonly seen as anxious. He details the response an individual may use as “self-protection” if experiencing social phobia such as acts of commission (reactive and passive) and acts of omission (distancing oneself or submission). Stravynski provides strong support for his view by detailing supporting evidence and graphics to demonstrate a strong evidence base.