Book Title: Group Action: The Dynamics of Groups in Therapeutic, Educational and Corporate Settings.

Author: T. Martin Ringer

Forewords by: Malcom Pines and Claudio Neri.

ISBN 1 843010 082 2

Published by: Jessica Kingsley Publishers (London). www.jkp.com

Year of Publication: 2002 (not 2001 as stated in the flyer!)

Number of Pages: 308

Price: UK £19.95      USA$29.95      Aust$54.95

What people have said about the book...

Review 1    Rudiger Gilsdorf: Educational Psychologist - Germany

If you ever wondered about the implications of psychodynamic processes for experiential group work, but never quite felt like diving into heavy psychoanalytic literature, this book is for you. Martin Ringer not only succeeds in "translating complex psychodynamic concepts into relatively comprehensible language", he also remains quite visible doing that as an enthusiastic practitioner and consultant. Commencing from the assumption that considering the complexity of group dynamics an attitude of “not-knowing” is vital, the author challenges the prevailing "facile-itation of facilitation". Instead he offers a number of fascinating concepts and perspectives which, apart from their capacity to enrich the existing theory in the field of experiential learning, can well be linked to concepts from other theoretical backgrounds. For example, his concept of a "reflective space" and the implications he is drawing from the theory of different memory systems are shedding a new light on processing practices and offer alternatives to the still wide-spread split between action and reflection. With concepts such as "containment", "linking" and "affiliative attachment" Ringer even offers a comprehensive framework of competencies and tasks for the facilitation of group processes. Even if your own approach to group dynamics may differ from psychoanalysis in a number of ways, there is a good chance that "Group action" will provide you with some refreshing newness.

Review 2     Maxine Murray: Director of Equal Opportunity in Public Employment, Western Australia.

For team leaders in organisations Group Action; The dynamics of groups takes you beyond the certainty of the technical and recipe approach.   If you are interested in being a fellow searcher and learner in the messy and challenging business of group leadership in organisations Group Action explores how to create the space to enable learning and progress in your team.

As a team leader I found the insights into the impact of my own internal working models both invaluable and liberating.  This enables increased flexibility in my approaches as an organisation team leader.

Martin Ringer has managed to make meaning for the lay person and corporate manager of complex ideas and language.  Group Action kept drawing me back so that I gained increased awareness about how to equip myself to work with both conscious and unconscious processes in work groups. With better understanding I can pursue changes in my approach.

Review 3    Steven Kempster: Steve Kempster, MBA Programme Director, Lancaster University School of Management

When we are considering issues of organizational analysis, many of us talk about mental models and unconscious thoughts. However, few of us genuinely take time out to reflect on what we mean by these concepts and their particular implications for understanding group activities.

In publishing this book, Martin Ringer has provided us with a companion for quiet reflection. It will support group leaders in developing insights into their own practice and in raising their conscious awareness. It is a counterpoint to the many texts that focus on recipes and heuristics for success. In contrast to these superficial quick fixes, the author offers a book that brings the reader to profound reflection.

The complexity of organizational life surrounding and shaping group effectiveness is the central theme of the book. Groups are seen as complex, dynamic social systems of individuals. They bring to their social milieu histories that shape perceptions of effectiveness and norms of acceptability. For many of us, the normative patterns of group life are seductively attractive compared to the terror of attempting to make sense and understand group realities. This is where the author makes such a significant contribution. His book provides an in-depth and holistic overview of the interrelated concepts within this complex field.

The author acknowledges that the text may wash over you. He suggests that it may require selectivity and re-reading after the initial holistic wash. Thus, I was curious about how I would feel when reading the book. My first reading made me realize that I had to think again about my understanding of group complexity. My second reading led me to concentrate on aspects that stimulated deeply personal reflection upon specific past experiences that I was curious to make sense of. I came to realize that I was using the book in a focused way to read and then apply to my critical incidents.

Therefore, the book is invaluable as a companion to signpost directions for further inquiry and experience. It can act to stretch one’s appreciation and understanding of group complexity. Furthermore, the author’s use of the first person in his writing and the generosity with which he shares his own personal experiences heighten the reflective aspect of the work. It is a book that rewards patient contemplation and delivers high returns for depth of study.

As I journey through the troubled and pleasant waters of group life, Martin Ringer’s book will be a companion to accompany my thinking and actions. I hope you enjoy the experience of reading it and the insights it can bring.