Title: Social Work
Author: Thomas Duffy
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 9781694404688
Pages: 272
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Reviewed by: Rae C. Bernard
Hollywood Book Reviews
We’re all living a life full of ups, downs, and happy middle ground. What we go through shouldn’t be the pinnacle on deciding whether or not life is worth living. Life grants us plenty of opportunities to experience both love and loss, but we must hold up our end to see every good and bad moment through. The support of individuals working in the field of caring for other’s physical and mental well-being are the true soldiers assisting in combat. Learn and unveil what can develop into something magical with a second chance to do life differently.
In Social Work, author Thomas Duffy introduces his audience to an individual named Marc, who attempted suicide and was found by professionals willing to help him see a life worth living. From his stay in the hospital, he had opportunities to cope with what he had done while living amongst other individuals who too wanted to see the reason for life. A social worker named Lauren interacted with Marc in therapy sessions and soon learned that what Marc did was only an act out of his lowest state of depression. She saw him as a smart man who made a mistake and believes he’s working harder to keep all that he’s attaining now from the help he’s getting. Although while Marc was in therapy sessions and taking medication, he spent time continuously looking for someone to share his life with, but in all the wrong places. Life was manageable, looking for work to support himself, he wanted that level of excitement and happiness with someone. Of course, Lauren wanted him to focus more on getting a stable job because dating requires money, he never once felt she was judging him, just offered caring advice. The characters in this book speak volumes of different personalities and thought processes of what life truly means to them. It points out that even though people can have everything and lose it all with a single thought of ending their life, it can take a lot of time, work, and effort to rebuild. Many are grateful for social workers that care enough to assist them in getting back into society amongst the rest of the world.
Throughout this book, I came to an understanding that no one truly knows what the next man or woman is going through in their own world. The judgment of others shouldn’t even be a thought that crosses anyone’s mind. People are out here suffering and seeking someone to care enough to pay them more attention when others fail them. It recognizes the job of being a social worker and how working with certain individuals can take a toll on your life if you let it. Lauren was an amazing woman who saw beyond the surface of all her patients, especially in Marc’s case. She saw his potential and that his mistake shouldn’t be the highlight of his “second chance” at life.
I enjoyed reading about someone who believed that they wanted to live a better life with their second chance. He overcame his mistake and didn’t want that to happen again. All it takes is someone to care for other people for people to realize they belong amongst the living and have the same right as anyone else to be on Earth. I highly recommend everyone who feels life could be challenging to give this a read, we all have our own battles to fight, but there are people who will be in your corner cheering you on to keep living and fighting.