This is a well organized tightly written book. Concepts for the differential assessment of treatment-resistant familes and crisis-prone families are introduced and illustrated with deftness and brevity. The result is a guide to intervening in the family system with an economy of effort based an analysis of their past and potential responsiveness to resolving the crisis. By differentiating between the two general types of families and the combination of the two, the high risk family, the authors have been able to generate a flexible protocol to guide choices in interventions. Transcripts illustrating the concepts are detailed enough to without excessive length. Adequate consideration is given to the implications for other systems depending on the target system as well as ethical considerations in communications with other systems, consultation and referral. All around, a very helpful book, suitable reading for both the beginning clinican and the advanced clinician. Frank Heitmann, MSW