Book Review #2: The Reflective Practice Guide: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Critical Reflection (Second Edition)

Title of book: The Reflective Practice Guide: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Critical Reflection (Second Edition)

Correct names of all authors: Barbara Bassot

Publisher’s name, geographic location, date: Routledge, Abingdon, UK, 2023

ISBN number of book: 978-1-032-23454-0

Number of pages in book: 193 pages

Price of book: $59.78 (paperback, hardcopy) through amazon.ca

Summary:

“The Reflective Practice Guide: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Critical Reflection” offers a comprehensive exploration of reflective practice, an essential element of professional and personal development. Targeted at students, practitioners, and professionals across various fields, the book aims to equip readers with practical tools and theoretical insights for engaging in reflective practice. The guide emphasizes self-awareness, critical thinking, and the iterative process of learning from experience.

Strengths:

I felt that the guide was clear, engaging, and accessible, making complex theories of reflection comprehensible for a wide audience. Its use of reflective exercises, practical examples, and frameworks such as Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle ensures that readers can actively engage with the material rather than passively consume it. This approach encourages experiential learning, which aligns with the essence of reflection itself. The guide is versatile and relevant to a variety of disciplines, including healthcare, education, social work, and business. Bassot skillfully addresses the needs of both novices and experienced practitioners by providing a balance between foundational theories and advanced reflective techniques.

Weaknesses:

I found that while the book aims to be inclusive of various professional contexts, some of the examples can seem too generic and lack specific applicability. Another flaw stemming from its accessibility was that it sometimes simplifies complex theories of reflection (e.g., Schön’s or Kolb’s models). After making Kolb’s model a focus of both my workshop and scholarly paper, I felt that I was wanting more depth or critical engagement with these theoretical frameworks.

Rating and Recommendations: 4.7/5

Bassot’s The Reflective Practice Guide is undeniably a valuable resource for fostering reflective practice. Its greatest contribution lies in its practical orientation and its ability to demystify reflective processes for beginners. Indeed, I feel that above all, the book succeeds in making a compelling argument for the practice of reflection in the toolbox of life-long learners. Bassot’s approach highlights how reflective practice can foster resilience, empathy, and ethical decision-making, which are critical in high-pressure environments. The book emphasizes the value of reflection for both personal growth and professional competence and I was struck that through reading this I could easily find the relevance of its content to my practice and personal life.