still classic, still relevant
Although ths book is over 30 years old, many of its insights have stood the test of time. The chapter on "The Disorganized and Disadvataged Family: Structure and Process" (which is over 50 pages long) could be useful for anyone who works with families who could be usefully considered as coming under either of these categories. This chapter is worth the price of the book I've seen on most listings by itself. The insight into the enmeshed and disengaged mothers, and those who need to be "a mother" rather than the mother of a particular child still struck chords after 40 years and on the South Coast o England wth exclusively white families rather than with the black and hispanic families that were the original focus here.
The language is easy to understand, the arguments are clear and the case study selection is lively and intereesting as well as informative.All this make it well worth at least £10. Other sections have perhaps not aged as well, and the sections on analysis of data would not appeal to most readers I would not have thought.
