Michael White

Today it is commonplace to hear therapists speak of experiences of demoralisation, burden, fatigue and despair. This book proposes that this is significantly an outcome of how therapy is conceived of and practised, and draws out alternative conceptions and practices of therapy, supervision and training that provide a powerful antidote to despair. Readers will be provided with options for taking narrative practices unto their own lives - options that will reinvigorate and renew.

Partisan or Neutral? critically examines the Rawlsian ideal of a public, supposedly neutral, political theory meant to justify contemporary constitutional democracies. Placing this ideal-appealed to by neo-natural law theorists and advocates of 'public theology' as well as by political theorists-against the background of the history of political liberalism, White shows its contradictory nature. He argues that any such legitimating theory will be 'partisan,' in the sense of appealing to convictions concerning the human good that will not be universally accepted. He concludes that all politics must be imperfect-a matter of pragmatism and prudence in forming the most workable compromises possible and in acquiescing, where our principles allow us to do so, in situations that are often far from optimal.

'Re-Authoring Lives' is a collection of inspiring interviews and essays. It makescompelling reading for counsellors, therapists and anyone who is interested inthe important questions about how people live their lives. You will especially appreciate this book if you are: - looking for hope and new visions in your work with people who are considered to have chronic problems- interested in literature and would like to find ways to express this in your work- developing ideas for consulting with people who have survived abuse- conscious of issues of power and want to make your practice more accountable to the people who seek your help- interested in recent developments in social theory and their implications for practice - wanting to work collaboratively with others in the generation of new possibilities for their lives