Books on workplace bullying, the health effects, PTSD, models for change and more
Even in this world of the internet a good read, of a well written book, is an unsurpassed way of learning, and knowledge is power. Here is a short selection of relevant titles which we or our members have read and would recommend. Would anyone who has read any of the many books on bullying, workplace violence, PTSD and related topics be prepared to add a small review here?
We've been going through these books at a rapid rate (public libraries are so important) and some of them are quite frankly, hmm..., well, not worth the read.
Two heavily publicised and reviewed recently published books, 'Toxic Emotions At Work' by Peter Frost and 'Violence at Work' by Joseph Kinney, don't even have the word bullying in the index.
The later title is classically badly written US double speak.
'For the newly unemployed, severing corporate ties is a painful and emotional experience. The search for meaningful economic alternatives is just one piece of comprehensive outplacement strategies.'
I think this means finding another job!?
Of course, every mention of workplace abuse and misbehaviour is good, but please let's call it 'bullying'.
Any books you'd recommend?
Please include title, author, publisher and ISBN - thanks.
Recommendations from our readers:
Here is the list of reviewed titles. Some titles may not appear relevant to our topic; they are: read on.
Please consider using smaller or independent bookstores to sell you or order these books; the action of the Amazons and Chapters of this world is nothing short of bullying.
Working With Monsters - how to identify and protect yourself from the workplace psychopath $24.95 by John Clarke
Here is a book that I found helpful and may assist others who are dealing with bullying at work. The author's Australian and has sensible advice.
Does the following person sound familiar?
- He/she can be found working inside many businesses and corporations.
- He/she intimidates fellow workers
- He/she exhibits impulsive behaviour
- He/she demonstrates a lack of remorse
- He/she is glib and superficially charming
Details: ISBN 1740511549, Format PaperBack, Category Business AND Management - Human Resources, Published by Random House, 2005
by Aphrodite Matsakis
Stalking the Soul: Emotional Abuse and the Erosion of Identity.
Dr. Marie-France Hirigoyen
by Tim Field.
Mobbing - Emotional Abuse in the American Workplace.
by Noa Davenport, Ruth Distler Schwartz, Gail Pursell Elliott.
by Ruth and Gary Namie, Ph.D
by Sam Horn.
Breaking the Silence: Overcoming .... Principal Mistreatment of Teachers
by Jo and Joseph Blase
by Susan Futterman
Bullying and Emotional Abuse in the Workplace
by Cooper, Einarsen et al.
What do we know, who is to blame and what can we do?
by Rayner, Hoel, Cooper
Dignity at Work: Eliminate Bullying and .....
by Pauline Rennie Peyton
Safeguarding the Organization against........
by Paul McCarthy and Claire Mayhew
The Black Hole in the Blueprint: Teacher Abuse
by Janice Howes
by Arthur H. , Ph D. Bell
by Dr Gabor Maté
Straw Dogs: Thoughts on Humans and Other Animals
by John Gray
1945-1950 (Collected Essays Journalism and Letters) by George Orwell
Reviews, comments and comparisons.
'I Can't Get Over It.' by: Aphrodite Matsakis ('Specialist in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder') New Harbinger Publications Inc ISBN: 157224058X
Subtitled 'a handbook for trauma survivors'
It's written by someone who cares, is writing the book to do good (not simply to make money or develop her career) is careful not to exclude any type of trauma, or create hierachies of trauma ('I'm more damaged than you are...').
There are practical tips and excersises and a good reading list, and other resources for finding help and support. The short section on finding the right therapist is very candid and practical.
This review of another life saving book from one of our members:
Title: Stalking the Soul:Emotional abuse and the erosion of Identity, Dr. Marie-France Hirigoyen (France) (Available in English and 23 other languages.) Preface by: Thomas Moore, ISBN: 1885586531
I got around to read many books on the subject, but I find Dr. Hirigoyen's to be among the most enlightening and comforting. She writes from a psychiatrist's point of view. A psychiatrist who was alarmed by the pattern of the stories heard from patients and who chose not to blame it on - and treat her patients for - personal pathologies. (Deja vu?)
Dr. Hirigoyen studied victimology in the U.S.A. before completing her book which she expected to be of interest strictly for her professional colleagues. The first print was 5,000 copies. Within 2 years there were many reprints and she sold 360,000 copies and the book was translated in 17 languages. Since then it was translated in 8 more languages.
Any bullied person reading this book is likely to annotate the chapter on workplace bullying, with many "yes" in the margins, as they will recognize many of the nuances she describes as a clinician, of the attitude and motivation of the different players involved in mobbing.
Dr. Hirigoyen was instrumental in honing the anti-bullying legislation in France - which precedes that of Quebec by few years. She recognized the need to distinguish challenging relationships, conflicts or personality clashes on one hand, and harassment on the other. The latter is intended to harm.
Any victim of bullying will find solace in this book because it very clearly distinguishes both and it squarely puts the pathology where it belongs - not on the victim.
I remember feeling "elated" and devouring the pages when I first read the book. I had heard an interview of the author on the radio just as I was going through the worst of the bullying. Tears came down my face hearing an explanation of the behaviour of co-workers that was so far totally incomprehensible.
Without exaggeration, it did save my life.
JL
I would also highly recommend my first book on this issue. It was an introduction to what was happening to me, and has become my guidebook and consultant on bullying issues. It is called
Bully in Sight by Tim Field. ISBN 0952912104, Success Unlimited
It is written by someone who has gone through being bullied and who has done a ton of research to help others. I purchased it from Amazon.com, but it is also available from Tim Field's wonderful website.
This book gave me the ability to understand and put a name to what was happening to me, as well as to give excellent suggestions on what to do, how to deal with symptoms, etc. It was validating and hopeful in challenging and combating workplace bullying and mobbing. The only problem is that it is written in the UK so some of the legal issues and laws are different from there to here.
Another one I read recently is called:
Mobbing - Emotional Abuse in the American Workplace, by Noa Davenport, Ruth Distler Schwartz and Gail Pursell Elliott, Civil Society Publishing. ISBN 0-9671803-0-9
'I found it to be much less involved than the Bully in sight book. It only has the basics on how one is affected, and nothing on Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome which many targets suffer from, if the trauma is kept going over a long period of time, as was my situation. However, the book was very helpful in that it does have a good list of ideas to challenge the bully through HR in the workplace under the section labeled 'How mobbing affects the organization.' I used several of the 'impacts on the organization' notes to talk to HR about why the bullying was bad for business, as well as for me personally. And in all honestly, most organizations are more concerned about the bottom line than individuals, so this books' greatest value for me was in showing them how important this was for them financially, etc.'
Two books I recently purchased are:
The Bully at Work: What You Can Do to Stop the Hurt and Reclaim Your Dignity on the Job by Gary Namie, Ruth Namie Ph.D, ISBN 1570715343, Sourcebooks
Review from 'Booklist': 'Because bullying has been identified as a contributing factor in the epidemic of violence in schools, teachers and counselors are being trained in methods for dealing with bullies. Unfortunately, many bullies do not stop their disruptive, hurtful behavior after they leave school and get jobs; they often just become more subtle. Few people, though, acknowledge that workplace bullying is or can be a real problem. The Namies, both psychologists, are out to change that. In 1998 they launched the Campaign against Workplace Bullying. Calling those who experience bullying "targets" rather than "victims" they have counselled nearly 3,000 such targets. They define what bullying is, show why it is harmful, and attempt to explain why it occurs. They describe efforts in Europe to prevent bullying, where the problem is taken more seriously, and they decry the lack of substantive legal recourse here in the U.S. The authors provide techniques and tactics for bully-proofing oneself and show how targets, once sufficiently prepared emotionally, can move on to "bully-busting" and "tyrant-toppling." David Rouse Copyright American Library Association. All rights reserved'
Take the Bully by the Horns: Stop Unethical, Uncooperative, or Unpleasant People from Running and Ruining Your Life by Sam Horn "A WOMAN SAID, "WHEN I THINK OF BULLIES, I PICTURE SOMEONE like Bluto out of the Popeye cartoon..." ISBN 0312320221, St Martin's Press
From Publishers Weekly:
'The subtitle of Horn's treatise indicates just how much psychological ground he manages to cover in this encouraging how-to. Not just for kids on the playground anymore, bullying can have serious consequences for adults: violence, lawsuits, abuse and even death. Many of the "28 Ways to Lose Your Bully" strategies Horn (Tongue Fu) outlines are common sense, the same advice parents might give children after a rough recess: "Put Up a Brave Front," "Get Out of My Space," "Screw Up Your Courage." The number of mini-quizzes and aphoristic sayings make the book read like a large-scale PowerPoint presentation (not surprising, as Horn is a veteran of the corporate seminar circuit). Yet there's a realism here that is convincing: Horn's example situations include spouses who hit or cheat, spouses' bosses who grope, coaches who berate, false friends who cajole confidences, business partners who steal, neighbors who instill fear and people who chronically hit up family members for bail money (or "deja moo"). Role playing "Action Plans" for conversation help firm up psychic independence and avoid pointless, draining argument.' Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Breaking the Silence : Overcoming the Problem of Principal Mistreatment of Teachers, by Jo and Joseph Blase, ISBN: 0761977724, Corwin Press
First Sentence: This book is written for all concerned with the improvement of public education in the United States, especially public educators themselves, prospective and practicing school principals and teachers, superintendents, district office supervisors, staff developers, boards of education, and state department officials as well as professors of educational leadership and teacher education.
When You Work for a Bully : Assessing Your Options and Taking Action by Susan Futterman, ISBN 0971953880, Croce Publishing Group, Llc
Book Description: 'For employees who are tired of constant confrontation, this book provides instructions for leaving an abusive situation in the workplace in a dignified way and moving on in a manner that is financially practical. Employees learn the numerous exit strategies available to get out of the abusive work situation, along with the benefits and drawbacks of each. From the decision-making process that will determine an employee's next steps to the information needed to implement this decision, this book provides the data and resources to make those difficult choices as well as the knowledge required to set them into action. Advice on everything from knowing how to identify a bully to utilizing self-defense tactics and budgeting finances enables bullied employees to take control of complicated and uncomfortable situations.'
Bullying and Emotional Abuse in the Workplace: International Perspectives in Research and Practice by Cary Cooper, Stale Einarsen (Editor), Helge Hoel (Editor), Dieter Zapf (Editor), ISBN 0415253594. CRC Press
Book Description: 'Over the last decade or so research into bullying, emotional abuse and harassment at work, as distinct from harassment based on sex or race and primarily of a non-physical nature, has emerged as a new field of study. Two main academic streams have emerged: a European tradition applying the concept of 'mobbing' or 'bullying' and the American tradition, primarily identified through concepts such as emotional abuse and mistreatment. One focuses on the perpetrator, the other on the victim. In addition research in this field has also started in Australia and South Africa. All are brought together in this work, in a synthesis of research and analysis of practice in the field. In addition, this book aims to document the existence and consequences of the problem of bullying, to explore its causes and to investigate the effectiveness of approaches aimed at mitigating and managing the problem, as well as to offer suggestions for further progress in this important new field.'
Workplace Bullying: What do we know, who is to blame and what can we do? Charlotte Rayner, Helge Hoel, Cary L Cooper, ISBN 0415240638 CRC Press
Review anyone?
Dignity at Work: Eliminate Bullying and Create a Positive Working Environment, Pauline Rennie Peyton, ISBN 1583912371, Brunner-Routledge
Review anyone?
Safeguarding the Organization against Violence and Bullying : An International Perspective by Paul McCarthy, Claire Mayhew, ISBN 1403932522, Palgrave Macmillan
Book Description: This book brings together the research evidence on occupational violence and bullying, estimates the costs to organizations and the community at large, examine the overlaps between manifestation in the broader community and the extent of spillover into workplaces, and identifies preventive interventions that may safeguard organizations from these threats. Opportunities for safeguarding strategies to add value to organizational skills, productivity, quality and reputation amongst clients, investors and government stakeholders are emphasized.
The Black Hole in the Blueprint: Teacher Abuse in San Diego City Schools by Janice Howes, ISBN 0615127967 (pub:?)
'As a San Diego City Schools teacher, I can tell you that this book describes, in documented detail, how principals systematically set up often-older, experienced and successful teachers to be harassed and fired - a new means of saving money at the expense of the children and the teachers involved. This is a deplorable state of affairs in education. We need our experienced teachers. Read this book to find out what happened to Janice and others in San Diego when a new superintendent brought the concept of ruthless business practices into education. This book is going fast - everyone wants to read it - parents, teachers, and even principals!' (review from a San Diego teacher on the Amazon site)
You Can't Talk To Me That Way!: Stopping Toxic Language In The Workplace by Arthur H. , Ph D. Bell, ISBN 156414822X, Career Press, 2005
Book Description You Can't Talk to Me That Way! Stopping Toxic Language in the Workplace stands up to verbally abusive bosses, co-workers, and others and says, "Enough!" It shows readers exactly what to say and do to end the humiliation and torment. Real injury-deep wounds and lasting pain-occurs as a result of verbal insults, putdowns, and ridicule in the workplace. This book is for anyone who has become discouraged, withdrawn and isolated at work due to verbal attacks-or, just as often, has been provoked into shouting matches and verbal confrontations with his or her attacker. Toxic language in the workplace causes people to withhold their best effort, transfer to a different division, or quit outright. Productivity and team spirit wither under a cloud of language meant to humiliate, hurt, and demean. To all those who spew such language at their co-workers, subordinates, and bosses, this book insists "You Can't Talk to Me That Way!" You Can't Talk to Me That Way! Stopping Toxic Language in the Workplace: * Presents a set of personal strategies for ending verbal assault and recovering from its effects. * Investigates the motives and methods of verbal attackers: who they are, how they operate, and why they torture others by verbal assaults, * Examines the psychology and circumstances of those targeted for verbal assault. * Suggests specific, practical steps companies can take to become aware of destructive environments and act quickly and legally to combat them * Makes readers aware of their legal options if toxic language at work is damaging their reputations, career progress, and/or physical or psychological well-being. * Offers a vision of the compatible, decent workplace where employees can do their best work without fear of demeaning verbal assaults from work associates at any level.
Four from Stephen from 'left' field (in every sense...)
Here are four books with nothing at all to do with workplace bullying, yet somehow each is a relevant and stimulating addition to the library of helping to understand the what, why, when, where and how of being bullied at work.
In some ways each of these titles puts workplace bullying into context of our society and its currently (sick, vicious, insert own adjective here) values.
Firstly 'When the Body Says No' by Dr Gabor Maté, pub.: Alfred A. Knopf, Canada, ISBN: 0676973116
A doctor and activist, Dr Maté, gives a well researched and referenced analysis of how the body tells us what is going wrong in our lives and how often this communication can be generations deep. It seems a bleak vision, but his style, and practical suggestions, along with real case histories, makes this an inspiring rather than a depressing book.
Secondly, 'My Ishmael' by Daniel Quinn, pub.: Bantam, ISBN 055379658
A story featuring conversations between a young girl and a gorilla, this odd premise simply gives the author a platform for some wonderful rants as to the state of society and how society forms. A favourite section on how to control people involves the simple 'you lock up the food'. Not only do you then have control over the foodless but you need cage makers, lock makers, administrators and security guards, and the whole ghastly mess begins. It doesn't take much of a stretch to see the 'food' he mentions as the information in an organization, which targets of workplace bullying are often kept from in order to control them. A fable for our times.
Thirdly, 'Straw Dogs: Thoughts on Humans and Other Animals' by John Gray, pub.: Granta, ISBN 1862075123
Not the 'Straw Dogs' of the movie, but a completely different animal, this is part philosophy, part politics, with a dash of radical passion. Political authodoxy vanishes before his taut prose and no one is spared. Invigorating and calming all at once.
Lastly, In Front of Your Nose, 1945-1950 (Collected Essays Journalism and Letters of George Orwell), pub.:Nonpareil Books, ISBN 1567921353
In many ways this is the predecessor of the three titles above. George Orwell's '1984' and 'Animal Farm' are essentially books about bullies and how society moulds them, shapes them, supports them, until society is them. These collected writings from the last year of the war until Orwell's death in 1950 are an illuminating selection of essays, letters and musings giving a clear picture as to how post war society was almost bound to be more divided and less humanitarian.
