Policy Press

General non-fiction

We publish serious non-fiction social commentary and debate for a wide audience. These high quality books are written by academics, professionals and other experts in an accessible way bringing key issues of social, political and cultural significance to a wide readership. These books have an impact: advancing knowledge, raising awareness and encouraging social change.

Download the flyer.

Showing 37-48 of 124 items.

Good Times, Bad Times

The Welfare Myth of Them and Us

This revised edition uses extensive updated research and survey evidence to challenge the view of 'skivers versus strivers', showing how much our lives vary not just as we age, but from week-to-week and year-to-year.

Policy Press

The Happiness Problem

Expecting Better in an Uncertain World

The Happiness Problem shows that the illusion of control over our lives is too simplistic and can even be harmful. Sam Wren-Lewis offers an alternative: he proposes that we can connect with, and gain a deeper understanding of, the personal and social challenges that define our time.

Policy Press

Health Divides

Where You Live Can Kill You

Clare Bambra examines the social, environmental, economic and political causes of health inequalities, how they have evolved over time and what they are like today. Revealing gaps in life expectancy of up to 25 years between places just a few miles apart, this important book demonstrates that where you live can kill you.

Policy Press

Hidden Stories of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry

Personal Reflections

This unique book provides an insider's view of the seminal inquiry into Stephen Lawrence's murder. This accessible and engaging book includes analysis of hitherto inaccessible transcripts which show how the Inquiry was undermined to the point of failure to produce the desired results.

Policy Press

The housing debate

The key debate in this timely book is whether social policy and people's homes should be so closely connected, especially when housing markets are so volatile. The author argues that housing, having been a relatively neglected field of public policy, is now rightfully re-established as a major pillar of the post-industrial welfare state.

Policy Press

Hunger Pains

Life inside Foodbank Britain

We know the statistics, but what does it feel like to be forced to turn to foodbanks for help? What does it take to get emergency food, and what's in the food parcel? This is a powerful insight into the harsh reality of foodbank use from the inside.

Policy Press

The Immigrant War

A Global Movement Against Discrimination and Exploitation

In this original, accessible book, Vittorio Longhi uses a global perspective to highlight the 'immigrant war and struggle for human rights, citizenship and equality', despite a policy vacuum towards immigration among governments of developed states.

Policy Press

In Whose Interest?

The Privatisation of Child Protection and Social Work

What is the social cost of privatising public services? And what effect has the failure of previous privatisations had? This book tells how social work services are now being out-sourced to private companies and how this trend threatens the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable children and disabled adults.

Policy Press

The Inequality Crisis

The facts and what we can do about it

Inequality has at last taken centre stage in the political discourse, but there is very little to explain the inequality debates and to offer solutions for the UK. This introductory book provides a comprehensive survey of all the available evidence, looking at both sides of the inequality argument.

Policy Press

Injustice

Why Social Inequality Still Persists

We are living in the most remarkable and dangerous times. Globally, the richest 1% have never held a greater share of world wealth, while the share of most of the other 99% has collapsed in the last five years. In this fully rewritten and updated edition of Injustice, Dorling offers hope of a more equal society.

Policy Press

Inside Thatcher’s Monetarism Experiment

The Promise, the Failure, the Legacy

In 1979, Margaret Thatcher’s new government pursued a monetarist economic policy in response to double-digit inflation, rising unemployment and flatlining economic growth. Tim Lankester's insider’s account offers fascinating insights into one of Britain's most unsuccessful economic episodes and also examines monetarism's legacy today.

Policy Press

Invisible Britain

Portraits of Hope and Resilience

Edited by Paul Sng

A photographic ethnography book that features the stories and portraits of individuals across the UK who have been impacted by social issues such as austerity, Brexit, deindustrialisation, nationalism and cuts to public services.

Policy Press