It is a sad indictment on society that there is scope for a book to be written on the dangers facing those who work in the ‘helping professions’, yet that is the position we are in. Whilst lamenting this state of affairs, some solace can be taken in the form of this book which is aimed at those professionals whose sole raison d'etre is to help others.
Adopting a generic, yet thorough, approach to ‘aggression’, more specific attention is paid to strategies for combating it. Case studies provide a useful focus in tying together the theory, and practical and relevant scenarios add another perspective. Not a subject area likely to be overly-familiar to many, the book is well-structured, lucidly written and is an easy read for those addressing the topic for the first time. A glossary of terms and a website for further reference should further aid a novice in this area.
I would like to have seen a bit more substance on the emotional aspect of managing your own reactions and the content is heavily weighted on the theoretical side. As experienced paramedics and health care staff in general will testify, the environment in which they work is a very unpredictable place. All the matrixes, theories and formulas for calculating risks do not compensate for heightened awareness and experience at spotting potential dangers as they materialise. To be fair, the author has gone some way in addressing this, particularly with regard to de-escalation techniques, and critical thinking is encouraged as each chapter presents the reader with a scenario they could potentially find themselves in. But you are unlikely to learn everything about managing aggression in these pages.
A sign of the times that such a publication has a place amongst clinical texts today. If you had to choose a book which covers this genre, you would be doing well to consider this one.