88 Book Reviews
claimed to have links with foreign partners and financial institutions. Assistance
from governments as acknowledged by the author is said to be limited. However,
some entrepreneurs started their enterprises from their own savings whilst some
inherited them.
Aparticular strength of this section is highlighting the contributory factors to the
successes of the African entrepreneurs. Factors are said tobe personal characteristics
such as social, educational backgrounds and age groups. It is also pointed out that
enterpreneurs often tend to set up enterprises in fields they are familiar with. For
instance some pursue similar businesses to those of previous employments. Large
numbers of African entrepreneurs employ wage labour and run enterprises on
modem lines.
Perhaps the other contributory factors to the success of the enterprises could be
better understood if they were given as advice to future entrepreneurs. These
include hard work, thrift, desire for self-improvement, shrewd business sense and
undoubtedly entrepreneurial drive. The author, however, points out that the flfSt
few years are difficult as only a few things proceed according to plan. Perseverance
and good management skills are therefore important. Finally, in cases of risk, the
entrepreneurs should diversify their enterprises further.
In conclusion, the author deserves a pat on the shoulder for a well-researched
study on entrepreneurs. However, the title "African entrepreneurs" is misleading,
as one is bound to expect information about the whole of Africa, yet the study is
only on sub-Sahara Africa. The author therefore should have ooen more specific.
Despite thisshortcoming the Discussion Paper fairly represents African situations
as a whole. The information presented is clear and useful and is to be recommended.
Multigenerational Family Therapy, David S Freeman, University of British
Columbia, Canada,The Haworth Press, New York, 1992, ISBN: 1-56024-125-X
(bib), 1-56024-126-8 (p/b), 389pp + index, $49,95 (bib), $24,95 (p/b).
"Nofamily therapist- whether experienced practitioner, student. teacher.
or supervisor - will want to miss Mulligenerational Family Therapy.
Anyone who has. ever struggled to shift responses from content to the
l!roce~s of a family's thinking will be delighted to have this method of
indUCinggrowth and and change illustrated and demystified. After setting
forth the ~oals and assumptions that guide his therapeutic interventions.
F~eema~ tllustrates these with transcripts of actual sessions in the beginmng.
muMle. and ending phases of therapy involving adult couples. The
cle~ annotatio.nsof these cases not only shows the importance of including
theirp~rents. SIblings.and other significant persons. but also demonstrates
how this ~an be done effectively" Carolyn LAllneave. PhD. SciD. Professor
Emeruus. University of Washington.
Book Rewews 89
This summary in the Haworth Press announcement says it all. David Freeman,
whilst focusing on multigenerational family therapy, uses family history to shed
light on the present, and particularly the resources the family has for coping in the
future. Whilst set in the North American context, the approach appears to have the
theoretical principles which can straddle different cultures and contexts.
The author utilises the extended family and highlights its importance in
supporting and influencing beliefs and value systems held by individuals, which
are often carried over into family life, aspects which are of particular importance
to those of us working in the African context.
He shows how individual family members bring their own histories from their
families of origin to synthesise with the next generation in a process of dynamic
interaction.
Freeman also demonstrates how events can be experienced and interpreted
quite differently by individuals, dyads and groups, often leading to complex effects
andbeliefs in families. In this way he highlights the challenge for the therapist who
must understand these different realities and yet facilitate a process of positive
change which affects all concerned.
I fOWldthis book enthralling, practical, illuminating and challenging, and I can
thoroughly recommend it to all those involved in working with families.
Reviewed by C Farrell, Director, CONNECf, Zimbabwe Institute of Systemic
Therapy, Harare.
Women and Development in the Third World, by Janet Henshall Momsen,
Routledge 1991, edited by John Bale and David Drakakis Smith, 115 pp,ISBN:
0-415-01695-9. No price given.
"Women are agents of change and not just victims and maJdng investment in
women a development priority will make a critical contribution to development" •
writes Janet Henshall Momsen, a senior lecturer in Geography at the University of
Newcastle.
This book is one of a series on development and underdevelopment In an effort
to highlight the role and contributions of women in economic growth the writer
illustrates by way of case-studies. The book establishes beyond doubt that women
in the Third World do both productive and reproductive work. They work longer
hours than men, yet they earn 10% of the world' s income and own 1% of the fam ily
property, produce almost half the world's population and yet there are fewer girls
in schools.