NURSE EDUCATION TODAY 4 11

Birth Reborn M Odent Souvenir 1994 123pp ISBN: O-285-63194-2 X10.99

When this book was first published in 1984 Michel Odent was well on his way to achieving the status of a childbearing guru. The book did little to hinder his advancement, being firmly founded on his charismatic approach to care in childbearing. Unfortunately, after ten years, charisma has ceased to be sufficient and a more authoritative foundation on which to base our care in childbearing is what is needed. It is a pity that the significant work which Odent has undertaken in the meantime has not been allowed to emerge in this new edition.

In the 1984 edition Odent proposed a number of, at that time, radical ideas. They evolved largely as a reaction to the highly interventive, medicalisation of care in childbirth introduced during the 1970s. His ideas constituted a major rethink of childbirth practices.

Odent’s crucial proposal was that childbearing should become woman-centred. This means that it is the mother who should be in control of her birth experience, rather than those who care for her.

One may be forgiven for doubting Odent’s genuine commitment to this essential tenet of childbearing. Likewise, the contribution of the midwife, while exhorted in the text, is less apparent in the photo- graphs, one-quarter of which feature the author.

Odent’s proposal of woman-centred care may be in danger of becoming a shibboleth of childbearing political correctness. It is necessary to question whether and to what extent our practice has pro- gressed in the ten years since this book was first published? The fact that many of the ideas proposed in this book still await acceptance may reflect less than favourably on care in childbirth in the UK.

ROSEMARY MANDER MSc PhD RGN SCM MTD

New Rituds for Old Pauline Ford & Mike Walsh Butterworth-Heinemann 1994 25Opp ISBN: o-7506-1581-8

In their previous book, Ford and Walsh criticised traditional nursing rituals. This time they have extended their scope a little, stating that they want to engage the proponents of new ideas in critical debate, that blind acceptance of new practice can also become ritualistic. This is certainly an exciting opening to a book that does deliver, albeit in a somewhat diluted form, what it promises. Part One concentrates on an overview of central arguments to the empowerment debate, and relates these to nursing. Thus the feminist

perspective is described, as is the work of the critical social theorists, notably Paulo Freire. From these viewpoints, the authors attempt to reconceptualise the work of Benner and Schon in ‘reflective practice’. There is also some debate of how controlling groups maintain power (the doctor-nurse scenario), and an overview of change theory. Part Two takes primary nursing, quality assurance, and nursing models to task, in particular criticising the lack of research that they are based on. This makes a refreshing change from the pro-new nursing practice literature, culmi- nating in the authors’ appeal for what they term ‘liberation nursing’. This is a nursing based on consen- sus and collaboration, that empowers rather than ritualises.

This is an important book. Whilst it is written in a highly digestible format, it does pose some central arguments and succinctly introduces the reader to a wider sociological literature, and relates this to nur- sing. Ford and Walsh challenge the status quo, and it is extremely refreshing to see an attack on the genera1 acceptance of new practice - it is bound to make many uncomfortable. Although in many ways this is a literature review rather than breaking any new ground, it is highly readable, and is a book that I recommend to any nurse concerned with critically assessing and evaluating current practice.

JULIE TAYLOR BSc(Hm.s) RGN

The Handbook of Psychotherapy Petrtiska Clarkson & Michael Pokorny Routledge, London 1994 ISBN: 0-415-07723-O (pb) f16.99

This handbook contains contributions from over twenty different writers, many of whom will be familiar for their recognised expertise in psycho- therapy. It is intended to provide a reasonably comprehensive overview of the field of psycho- therapy, and is written with a wide range of readers in mind, including those who have some professional interest in the subject, as well as psychotherapists and counsellors. It is divided into five main sections, each dealing with various aspects of theory and practice. The first section sets the scene, providing a good overview of the development of psychotherapy. It clearly outlines some of the theoretical differences and similarities between the major schools of thought. There is an interesting discussion of the distinctions between psychotherapy, counselling and psychology, as well as descriptions of differing professional roles. The chapter on the psychotherapeutic relationship, distinguishes types of relationships utilised as part of the therapeutic process. It offers a useful framework