The Haunt of Misery : Critical essays in social work and helping

First published in 1989, The Haunt of Misery offers social workers and students critical essays for critical times.

Faced with unreflective wealth creation and the fragmentation of the counterculture, social work is perceived as failing to meet the needs of the client.

Many social workers are left feeling angry, stranded and confused.

Written by academics and professionals, the essays range over social work and unemployment, the crisis of AIDS and HIV infection, drug use, client collectives, the elderly, the ethnic minorities, professionalism, and self-management.

The authors offer constructive criticism of existing social work practice and suggest radical and exciting issues for the profession in the 1990s and beyond.