Often when we train people they ask us what good books there are for them to read about the solution-focused approach. Of course, in such instances, we refer to some of the classic books by the founders of the solution-focused approach, including Steve de Shazers standard setting Keys to Solutions in Brief Therapy (1985) and mind stretching Words Were Originally Magic (1994), and Peter De Jong's and Insoo Kim Berg's very useful Interviewing For Solutions (2001) and Insoo's and Yvon Dolan's inspiring Tales of Solutions (2001). These were some of the books that made the approach well known to a large audience and they are still an inspiration to many practitioners. Beside these a large collection of related books has come out over the years, some of which are John Walter and Jane Pellers Becoming Solution-Focused In Brief Therapy (1992), Bill O'hanlons Do One Thing Different (2000), Paul Jacksons and Mark McKergow's The Solutions Focus (2002) and Fletcher Peacocks Water The Flowers Not The Weeds (2000).

A new wave

Soluton-Focused Education by Kerstin Måhlberg and Maud Sjöblom (2004). Special education teachers Måhlberg and Sjöblom have developed solution-focused educaton at their school FKC Mellansjö in Sweden. The book describes in detail how to converse with pupils and their parents in a solution-focused manner, and how to raise awareness of pupils? own resources and focus on what already works for them.

Positive Approaches to Change by Mark McKergow and Jenny Clarke (Editors) (March, 2005). This book contains a collection of articles from a wide range of authors from a wide range of countries. It describes international experiences of applying the positive power of Solutions Focus and Appreciative Inquiry to coaching, team remotivation, supervision, performance management, strategic planning, etc.

Children's Solution Work by Insoo Kim Berg, Therese Steiner (February, 2003). Focusing on solutions and not problems, thinking about the future and not the past, and understanding the effects of miracles?children do these things naturally. Here, leaders in the solution-focused approach provide clinicians with a guide to a kind of therapy that fits with children's natural way of being.

The Miracle Question: Answer It and Change Your Life by Linda Metcalf (January, 2005).

Written primarily in a way that Life Coaches will relate to, using Solution Based Therapy, rather than regression based methods, this book seeks to avoid rehashing the past but build on the strengths that are already present in the reader even though these may have gone unrecognised thus far.

Doen wat werkt: Oplossingsgericht werken in organisaties (Dutch) by Coert Visser, with Gwenda Schlundt Bodien (August, 2005) (translation: Doing what works, solution-focused practise in organizations). This book explains what solution-focused change is and what it can mean for you and your organization. Practical and recognizable explanations and examples make it very easy for you to start applying the solution-focused method yourself.

Succesgericht HRM (Dutch) by Gwenda Schlundt Bodien and Coert Visser, with Joyce Weber (March, 2005)(translation: Success-focused HRM). This book applies the solution-focused model to many different aspects of human resources management in organizations. Topics covered, among others, are coaching, dealing with conflicts, performance appraisals, competency management and giving feedback.

Team Coaching with the SolutionCircle by Daniel Meier (June, 2005). Applying the positive power of Solutions Focus to working with teams, Daniel Meier shows the reader how to apply Solutions Focus methods with groups and teams, choose and use the eight steps of the SolutionCircle, become an effective team coach - as a manager or external resource, and engage team members in finding useful action steps.

Brief Coaching for Lasting Solutions by Insoo Kim Berg, Peter Szabo (soon to be published). Written by co-originator Insoo Kim berg and owner of the biggest coaching school in Switzerland, Peter Szabo, this book promises to become an authoritative account on how to use the solution-focused techniques within the domain of business coaching.

Coert Visser (coert.visser@planet.nl) is a consultant, coach and trainer using a positive change approach. This approach is focused on simply helping individuals, teams and organizations to make progress in the direction of their own choice. Coert wrote many articles and a few books. More information: www.m-cc.nl / www.m-cc.nl/solutionfocusedchange.htm / Dutch network / Dutch blog