{"title":"Books","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBooks from Shorts Media\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExplore our collection of books on social work, personal development, productivity, wellbeing and lifelong learning. Practical ideas, thoughtful perspectives and accessible resources to help you think differently, work effectively and make meaningful changes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"from-the-edges-of-practice-proposing-slow-social-work","title":"From the Edges of Practice - Proposing Slow Social Work","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eAre we losing the heart of social work in our rush to keep up?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eFrom the Edges of Practice: Proposing Slow Social Work\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, Stephen Mordue offers a compelling and timely challenge to the systems that are reshaping care into compliance, and connection into performance. Drawing on philosophy, sociology, and his experience, this collection of essays explores what it means to practise social work with presence, integrity, and humanity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWritten for social work managers and practitioners - those doing difficult work in difficult systems - this book is both a critique and a companion. It explores themes including:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"a-unordered-list a-vertical\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eThe acceleration of modern life\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and how it fractures attention, care, and identity\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eBurnout and emotional labour\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e in a culture of constant optimisation\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eSafety, supervision, and psychological trust\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e in practice and organisations\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eThe myth of neutrality\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and the power of ethical presence\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eHope in the margins\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e—and why quiet success matters\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMordue argues for a reframing of professionalism: not as speed or neutrality, but as emotional integrity and ethical intention. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eSlow social work\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is not about doing less - it’s about doing what matters, with the time, care, and reflection it deserves.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf you’re looking for validation, provocation, and a return to what made this profession meaningful in the first place this book is for you.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eStephen Mordue\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is a social work academic, writer, and former practitioner whose work explores the emotional, ethical, and political dimensions of practice. With a background in frontline social work and a passion for critical reflection, he writes to reconnect practitioners with the heart of their profession. He is known for his accessible style, deep thinking, and for asking the kinds of questions that stay with you long after you’ve closed the book.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBook Details\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFormat: Paperback\u003cbr\u003ePages: [92]\u003cbr\u003eISBN: [9798291951385]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Shorts Media","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55747482485078,"sku":"SM-BOOK-001","price":7.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1072\/3616\/3926\/files\/ProposingSlowSocialWork.png?v=1791983576"},{"product_id":"study-smart-everything-they-forgot-to-tell-you-about-university","title":"Study Smart: Everything they forgot to tell you about university","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eUniversity isn’t just about getting a degree. It’s about what happens to you while you’re getting one.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eStudy Smart: Everything They Forgot to Tell You About University\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is a practical guide to studying — but it is also a book about \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003ewhy we study in the first place\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYes, you’ll find advice on how to read academic books and journal articles, write better assignments, think critically, manage your attention, use AI wisely, work ethically and cope when things don’t quite go to plan. But this isn’t a collection of study hacks designed simply to help you get through your next assignment.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUniversity should do something more than fill your head with information. At its best, it changes the way you think. It teaches you to ask better questions, weigh evidence, challenge assumptions, communicate ideas clearly and become comfortable with sometimes saying, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eI don’t know yet.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDrawing on years of teaching university students, Stephen J. Mordue explores the things that higher education often expects students to somehow already know: how university works, what lecturers are actually looking for, why academic reading feels so difficult, what critical thinking really means, how to make your writing clearer, and why struggling with something can be evidence that you are learning rather than evidence that you don’t belong.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlong the way, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eStudy Smart\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e tackles the hidden curriculum of university, the battle for your attention in a permanently distracted world, the difference between learning and simply completing tasks, and the opportunities — and temptations — presented by AI.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWritten in straightforward, conversational language, this is a book for new students, returning students, first-generation students, and anyone who has ever looked around a university classroom and wondered whether everybody else has been given a set of instructions they somehow missed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere are tips. There are strategies. There are things you can start doing differently tomorrow.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBut the bigger idea is simple:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eUniversity isn’t about proving how clever you already are. It’s about becoming more capable than you were when you arrived.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYou’re not just earning a degree.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eYou’re learning how to learn, how to think — and perhaps how to see the world a little differently.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBook Details\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFormat: Paperback\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePages: [101]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eISBN: [9798192620755]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Shorts Media","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55748903469398,"sku":"SM-BOOK-002","price":7.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1072\/3616\/3926\/files\/StudySmart.jpg?v=1791985661"},{"product_id":"social-work-your-ultimate-final-placement-reflective-journal-activators-ideas-and-resilience-social-work-placements","title":"Social Work: Your Ultimate Final Placement Reflective Journal: Activators, Ideas and Resilience (Social Work Placements)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eA reflective journal that is more than a blank page for each day.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eStarting reflection can be difficult. What do you reflect on? What do you connect your thoughts to? Where do you start? While this journal does give you space each day of your placement to record your thoughts and ideas it is more than that! Each day includes an 'activator' - a thought starter - something to get your thinking moving to make the process so much easier. There's also a resilience strategy. Something for you to consider in relation to your self care and productivity. Resilience is built around our emotions, our physical well-being, and our practical strategies to get things done. There's a tip to help with this each day!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNot just a reflective journal, but a stimulating tool that will connect you to your social work education.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWritten and collated by Stephen J. Mordue, lecturer in Social Work at University of Sunderland, with experience as a Practice Educator and as Practice Education lead in the University, as well as being a speaker and published expert in resilience building - \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003ethis really is so much more than just a journal.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBook Details\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFormat: Paperback\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePages: [209]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eISBN: [M0D2067819954]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Shorts Media","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55749405540694,"sku":"SM-BOOK-004","price":7.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1072\/3616\/3926\/files\/Journal100.png?v=1791986433"},{"product_id":"connecting-social-work-theory-and-practice-power-communication-and-change-paperback","title":"Connecting Social Work Theory and Practice: Power, Communication, and Change (Paperback)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe interplay between power, communication and change is the bedrock of what social work is, what it needs to contend with and what it seeks to achieve. This textbook draws on these foundational concepts in order to combine the worlds of theory and practice, aiming to connect the two often disparate sides of social work.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDrawing on the key concepts of power, communication and change throughout, the book shows that these essential elements are evident in the explanation and application of all theory and practice perspectives. Divided into three sections, this work delves into each of these underpinning concepts in turn, demonstrating how they permeate all aspects of social work. Chapters address dimensions of power and embedded social structures; the complexities of communication and approaches to difficult conversions; and how assessment skills, along with a range of practice models can help to challenge injustices and facilitate change. In doing so, these chapters get to the heart of social work, by iterating the foundational goals of dispersing power, fostering effective communication and supporting change.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWritten in an accessible style that is both clear and engaging, this book will be of interest to all students of social work and social work professionals.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBook Details\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFormat: Paperback\u003cbr\u003ePages: [209]\u003cbr\u003eISBN: [9781041067238]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Shorts Media","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55749760090454,"sku":"SM-BOOK-005","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1072\/3616\/3926\/files\/ConnectingSocialWorkTheoryandPractice.png?v=1791986778"},{"product_id":"connecting-social-work-theory-and-practice-power-communication-and-change-hardback","title":"Connecting Social Work Theory and Practice: Power, Communication, and Change (Hardback)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe interplay between power, communication and change is the bedrock of what social work is, what it needs to contend with and what it seeks to achieve. This textbook draws on these foundational concepts in order to combine the worlds of theory and practice, aiming to connect the two often disparate sides of social work.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDrawing on the key concepts of power, communication and change throughout, the book shows that these essential elements are evident in the explanation and application of all theory and practice perspectives. Divided into three sections, this work delves into each of these underpinning concepts in turn, demonstrating how they permeate all aspects of social work. Chapters address dimensions of power and embedded social structures; the complexities of communication and approaches to difficult conversions; and how assessment skills, along with a range of practice models can help to challenge injustices and facilitate change. In doing so, these chapters get to the heart of social work, by iterating the foundational goals of dispersing power, fostering effective communication and supporting change.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWritten in an accessible style that is both clear and engaging, this book will be of interest to all students of social work and social work professionals.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBook Details\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFormat: Hardback\u003cbr\u003ePages: [217]\u003cbr\u003eISBN: [9781041067252]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Shorts Media","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55750387368278,"sku":"SM-BOOK-006","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1072\/3616\/3926\/files\/Screenshot2026-10-14at15.04.02.png?v=1791987298"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.shortsmedia.org\/collections\/books.oembed","provider":"Shorts Media","version":"1.0","type":"link"}