Book excerpt: This book provides a detailed narrative and analysis of the 50-year development of the personal social services in England, located throughout the changing ideological, political and relevant professional contexts of the period. Drawing on the experience and recollections of key players who were active during major moments, it constitutes a significant addition to the social work and social policy literature, synthesising important and often original evidence, and some provocative interpretations. The book speaks to crucial on-going issues and contentious current debates, such as the place of bureaucratic management structures in ‘practices with people' generally, and social work specifically. It will be of interest to student and qualified social workers, social policy students and researchers, and policy makers, as well as those with a general interest in the history and trajectory of current issues facing social work and social care in England.