Bully In Sight by Tim Field

I picked up this book from a charity shop and, while less interested in bullying at work than bullying in social situations, I was interested in the psychology behind bullying behaviour, which applies across different environments.

I found this book quite hard going at first, but as I persevered, parts of the book really resonated with me. I've had trouble with bullies in the past. Thankfully those times are behind me, but the situations described reflect many of my own experiences.

The book explains the long-term effect of bullying on victims, the background and motivations of some bullies, the negative effect of bullying on the victim's academic and workplace performance, as well as trauma, hypervigilance, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and psychological damage.

I don't agree with everything in this book. For example, I don't think bullies tend to have low confidence, because those I've experienced are dispicable, arrogant, and full of their own importance. But it does provide fascinating insight to the world of bullying and the effects on the victim, which go far wider than the immediate upset that bullying causes.

Tim Field also explains why the advice so frequently given to 'ignore it' is utterly futile and unhelpful. An interesting read.