Social Inclusion of People With Mental Illness. By Julian Leff & Richard Warner. Cambridge University Press. 2006. 202 pp. £29.99(pb). ISBN 0521615364

Julian Leff and Richard Warner are two of the key voices in contemporary social psychiatry. This comprehensive (though relatively short) book is written accessibly, so will be a valuable introduction to anyone involved with severe mental illness, but has a wealth of detail for the specialist reader. The narrative is international (albeit with an understandable emphasis on the USA and UK), building a coherent narrative from research – much of which is, by necessity, on schizophrenia. Embedded in this are supporting and illustrating comments by service users, descriptions of fascinating practice innovations (from a consumer-run pharmacy in Boulder, USA to crisis homes in Aro, Nigeria) and invaluable sections drawing on the authors' extensive experience. Part 1 comprehensively reviews chronic psychosis, the history of mental health services, and treatment interventions, with the recurring theme of stigma and discrimination. Part 2 focuses on employment, with a clear description of the two planks of modern vocational rehabilitation: supported employment and social firms.

The book is optimistic, arguing that innovative model projects can be generalised to wider use, an optimism that may clash with clinicians' experiences of mental health systems with top-down development and resource pressures. But it is also realistic, for example, acknowledging that not all people with chronic psychosis can be employed in the mainstream (though the research suggests 50–60% can, rather than 10–15% typically found), so work alternatives such as reformed sheltered work have a place.

The book is limited on forensic services and the challenges of fostering the social inclusion of mentally disordered offenders. There is the omission of disability discrimination legislation (and the wider context of government social policy) and, indeed, how mental health might be seen as part of the wider disability movement. And I would have welcomed more guidance on substance misuse, physical health and exercise, and on inequities in accessing healthcare. But these are quibbles. This is an excellent book, written with great compassion and with an emphasis on the person, citizenship and solutions.