10 (More) Books Every Social Worker Should Read

Social scientist Brené Brown lets readers in on her groundbreaking work surrounding the secrets to rising up after failure. If you’re not up for reading the whole book, watch Brown’s TED Talk on the subject. 

Draw inspiration from the power of human emotion while learning new tools for dealing with vulnerability and failure.

MSW@USC Clinical Assistant Professor Kristen Zaleski, MSW ’04, explores the cultural and organizational aspects of military life that influence military sexual trauma (MST) as well as intervention and therapy methods.

Identify the root causes of MST and barriers to treatment for both women and men. Then, delve into Zaleski’s recommended cutting- edge treatment methods for survivors.

In the sequel to The New York Times best-seller, “Three Little Words,” MSW@USC graduate Ashley Rhodes-Courter shares intimate details about her adult life after spending the majority of her childhood in foster care.

Explore the unique emotional challenges adults who once lived in foster care may have and identify areas of improvement for the system.

Follow Barbara Ehrenreich in this critically acclaimed work, as she immerses herself in the working class. Ehrenreich travels the country working jobs that pay minimum wage, and living in the cheapest lodging available to gain insight into America’s working poor.

Gain a deeper understanding of the challenges that face Americans of low socioeconomic status.

Terrence Fitzgerald uses empirical data to analyze the effects of racism in the education system and provides solutions for improving the lives of African-American youth. 

Uncover issues black men face as a result of white supremacy in the education system.

This book gives an inside look into the professional lives of 58 individual social workers in fields that include children and families, adults and aging, and community organization.

Understand and expand your knowledge regarding the unique challenges and rewards associated with every area of the social work profession.

An international social worker, Louis Lowy shares his experiences during the Holocaust and how they shaped his career in social work.

Gain a unique and inspiring perspective on the social work profession.

For almost three years, author Benoit Denizet-Lewis followed eight men and women struggling with addiction. A recovering addict himself, Denizet-Lewis sheds light on the link between addiction and other pressing social problems.

Uncover the ties between addiction and crime, poverty, child abuse and other social challenges.

Based on the findings from the longest study on longevity ever conducted, the Longevity Project focuses on the surprising factors that impact the process of aging.

Learn about the factors affecting the process of aging through data about adults and healthy aging.

This first-person narrative details one of the most severe child abuse cases in California history. While shocking, it provides insight into the realities of child abuse. 

Explore how children can cope with extreme trauma and the factors that influence their resilience.