Edelson and Berg use stories to present, reflect on and learn from experience. They contrast the stories we tell about individuals and interpersonal interactions and those we tell about groups and organizations, and when we most usefully tell which kind of story. The authors deplore the tendency to rely on individual psychology for understanding problems in groups or organizations and so, emphasizing the psychopathology of individuals, to blame them for what is going on.
Their stories are about conflicts between individual and group, and how these affect the formation of a group and what it's like to be a group member. They are also about using and abusing authority; scapegoating; and perceiving, pigeonholing, and responding to members in terms of stereotypes of the other groups to which they belong (gender, race, ethnicity, and status).
Finally, the book suggests the various ways different kinds of groups can be used to help people in distress. It also presents what goes into bringing about organizational changes to help people who are trying to do their jobs in less than optimal conditions.