In our increasingly tumultuous world, this book offers insight and inspiration through personal narrative. It collects the accounts of twenty-seven social workers and those in academia based in five continents, surveying a wide range of environments, communities, and systems. Each narrative serves as a testament to the profound intersections of relationships, emotions, and experiences, encapsulating stories of genuine human significance. Advocating for the cultivation of three essential intelligences – social intelligence (SQ), emotional intelligence (EQ), and experiential intelligence (XQ) – the book prompts readers to grasp the nuanced power dynamics inherent in each tale. As a prompt to critical reflection that guides readers towards self-discovery and professional identity, this collection is ideal for graduate students and researchers in social work.

‘In a world with many crisis and increasing inequalities, reading this book gives me hope! The stories that matter provides thought-provoking ideas and perspectives that we need to build a better world. Ghaye and Sørly, together with all the contributors from all over the world have created a brilliant book: critical, eye-opening, intriguing and very well written – a must read to creating a more empathic and mattering society.'

Ottar Ness - Professor of Counselling, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway

'When people create meaning together through stories, so do they sow seeds of action', conclude Ghaye and Sørly in this tour de force book spanning narratives from over 13 countries, reflecting skillful intertwining of the personal and professional/political. The power of stories to challenge epistemic injustices is one of several salient messages.'

Vishanthie Sewpaul - Emeritus Professor, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa