Jeff Popple reviews three books about work, trauma and the threat to our wildlife. More of Jeff’s reviews can be found on his blog: murdermayhemandlongdogs.com
Just Work by Kim Scott
Macmillan, $34.99
In light of recent headlines emanating from Parliament House, Kim Scott’s Just Work seems very timely. Scott is a well-recognised CEO coach and has led high performing teams at Apple and Google. Sub-titled ‘Get Sh*t Done, Fast and Fair’, her latest book provides a practical guide to recognising and eliminating workplace injustice and making the best use of all the people in an organisation. As she points out, too often huge numbers of people, often women, are undervalued and under-utilised at work, while others are overestimated and promoted beyond their capability. Her book shows how to respect everyone’s individuality and collaborate effectively to achieve better business results. A must for senior managers.
You’re Not Broken by Sarah Woodhouse
Penguin, $34.99
According to research psychologist Sarah Woodhouse, we all carry trauma of one kind or another. This can manifest as anxiety, low self-esteem, over-eating and a host of other symptoms. Too often, people can become trapped in trauma cycles of dysfunctional behaviours, negative thoughts and difficult feelings. In You’re Not Broken, Woodhouse explains what trauma is and how to recognise and overcome it. She gently explains how to confront personal issues and look back at your past with honesty. She also uses the latest research to guide people towards breaking the ‘Trauma Loop’ and reclaiming their confidence. A helpful and insightful book.
Flames of Extinction by John Pickrell
NewSouth, $29.99
In many ways, COVID-19 has overshadowed the devastation caused by the 2019-20 bushfire season and slowed environmental recovery efforts. Which is a shame, because as John Pickrell points out in Flames of Extinction, the fires killed more than three billion native animals and inched many species, such as koalas and the platypus, closer to extinction. Pickrell has travelled widely across the firegrounds and, in his book, he articulates in a very readable style the effects of the fires and shares moving stories of the efforts to save our wildlife. He also suggests radical new conversation methods. A fascinating and vital book that is a timely reminder of the importance of conservation.
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