Cbt books for anxiety

30 Best CBT Books to Master Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that has been used for decades to treat a variety of disorders, from depression and anxiety to eating disorders and insomnia.

One of the exciting aspects of CBT is that it can either be used by therapists to treat their clients or by people who want to treat themselves.

These are the 30 best books for teaching yourself CBT, whether you are a clinician or a client, and whether you already know a little bit about what is CBT or know absolutely nothing.

Before you read on, we thought you might like to download our three Positive CBT Exercises for free. These science-based exercises will provide you with a detailed insight into Positive CBT and will give you the tools to apply it in your therapy or coaching.

This Article Contains:

7 Best CBT Books for Learning CBT as a Therapist
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Books for Treating Client’s Anxiety
5 Best-Selling CBT Books on Amazon
CBT Audio Books
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for Dummies (Short review + Summary)
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: Teach Yourself (Short review + Summary)
A Take-Home Message

7 Best CBT Books for Learning CBT as a Therapist

These are the best books for learning about CBT as a therapist, for the purposes of treating clients.

1.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Second Edition: Basics and Beyond – Judith S. Beck and Aaron T. Beck

This book, from CBT expert Judith Beck, the daughter of CBT founder Aaron Beck, is perhaps the best way for therapists to start learning about CBT. The book walks the reader through a CBT program from determining how to treat a client to executing that treatment plan.

The book also includes a thorough case study, so therapists can see what CBT looks like in action. It is a comprehensive manual which is also written to be accessible, so any therapist can start learning regardless of how much they know about CBT before starting the book.

2.

A Therapist’s Guide to Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – Jeffrey A. Cully

This book, sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs in the United States, was written specifically for the purpose of giving therapists a beginner’s foundation in CBT.

The authors explicitly say this book is not meant for advanced practitioners, meaning absolute beginners can pick this book up and start learning about how to administer CBT.

It is available online for free in PDF form, and can be found here.

3.

The CBT Toolbox: A Workbook for Clients and Clinicians – Jeff Riggenbach

As the title suggests, this book is meant for teaching CBT to both therapists and their clients, which means that therapists can even recommend this book to clients for their own use. The author studied CBT at the Beck Institute of Cognitive Therapy and Research, so the lessons contained within are well-informed.

The book recognizes that there is no “one size fits all” approach to therapy, so it contains a few different CBT exercises for different situations. This is an excellent book for therapists to start learning about CBT, no matter what their client’s needs are.

4.

CBT Worksheets: CBT Worksheets for CBT therapists in training – Dr James Manning and Dr Nicola Ridgeway

This book is not a comprehensive guide to learning CBT, but a supplemental resource which can help therapists develop specific treatment plans.

It is a collection of CBT worksheets that therapists can give their clients to start working through during or outside of therapy sessions.

Therapists learning about CBT will find this resource helpful for solidifying their understanding by showing how CBT works in practice rather than only learning about it in theory.

5.

Let’s Think About Feelings: Tools for Child-Friendly CBT – Marcie Yeager LCSW and Daniel Yeager LCSW

This book is unique on this list because it is not necessarily for learning about CBT, but for learning about using CBT with children. In fact, the authors state that therapists reading this book should already have a foundation in CBT to get the most out of this book.

That said, this is an important book to include because therapists who want to start administering CBT to children might not know where to start, and this book is an excellent introduction. The book also includes several exercises and worksheets to make CBT more accessible and fun for children.

6.

CBT for Chronic Pain and Psychological Well-Being; A Skills Training Manual Integrating DBT, ACT, Behavioral Activation and Motivational Interviewing – Mark Carlson

This book is meant to be a manual for teaching therapists about CBT, especially for the purposes of treating chronic pain. The book takes a broad approach to CBT, incorporating lessons from other types of therapies, including Behavioral Activation and Motivational Interviewing.

The author’s goal is to present the therapist with a wealth of information from which the therapist can pick and choose what goes into their client’s personalized treatment plans. This book is an excellent option for anyone who likes having all of the information available to them, even if it is not all strictly necessary.

7.

Doing CBT: A Comprehensive Guide to Working with Behaviors, Thoughts, and Emotions – David F. Tolin

This is another introductory CBT book which can be used by both therapists and their clients. The book is meant to be accessible but comprehensive, with every aspect of CBT explained, along with three separate case examples that are discussed at length.

The book also includes worksheets and exercises, so it not only teaches therapists how to administer CBT in theory but also helps therapists develop concrete treatment plans for their clients. Since this book includes three extensive case studies rather than just one, it is a great option for people who like learning by following along with examples.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Books for Treating a Client’s Anxiety

These are the best books for learning about CBT for the purposes of specifically treating anxiety, whether you are a clinician or a client.

1.

The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Anxiety: A Step-By-Step Program – William J. Knaus and Jon Carlson

This book uses the teachings of CBT along with the teachings of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) to help people overcome their feelings of anxiety and panic. It is meant to be used by clients either by themselves or with the guidance of a therapist.

Rather than just presenting information about CBT, the book presents a step-by-step program that readers can follow along with to improve their own lives and start getting over anxiety. This is a great option for anyone who feels powerless when they are overcome by their anxiety and is looking for an actionable way out of that feeling.

2.

The Worry Workbook for Teens: Effective CBT Strategies to Break the Cycle of Chronic Worry and Anxiety – Jamie A. Micco PhD

This book is aimed at teenagers who want to use CBT to quell the anxiety in their lives. It aims to be a fun read that teenagers can work through to get at the root of their anxiety.

One of the ways the author does this is by conceptualizing anxiety-provoking thoughts as “junk mail”. Like many of the books on this list, it is meant to be used by clients either on their own or with the guidance of their therapists.

This is a great option for teenagers who spend too much of their time worrying about things in their lives like tests and relationships, whether or not they conceptualize those worries as anxiety.

3.

CBT Strategies for Anxious and Depressed Children and Adolescents: A Clinician’s Toolkit – Eduardo L. Bunge, Javier Mandil, Andres J. Consoli, Martin Gomar and Bruce F. Chorpita

This book on CBT for anxiety is not only aimed at teenagers but children as young as seven years old as well. While the above book by Micco is aimed at either clinicians or their clients, though, this book is more meant to be used by therapists to treat their seven to 18-year-old clients.

The book includes several worksheets and exercises that therapists can provide their clients with to help the process along. From examples of specific cases to address common problems that can arise during CBT, this book is an excellent option for anyone treating adolescents with anxiety issues.

4.

The Anxiety and Worry Workbook: The Cognitive Behavioral Solution – David A. Clark and Aaron T. Beck

This book, co-authored by the founder of CBT, Aaron Beck, is all about using the teachings of CBT to control your levels of anxiety. The teachings within include helping you identify anxiety triggers and how to respond to them, as well as more long-term solutions for reducing your levels of anxiety.

The included exercises and worksheets are meant to help you conquer anxiety on your own pace, one step at a time, whether or not you are being guided by a therapist.

5.

Retrain Your Brain: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in 7 Weeks: A Workbook for Managing Depression and Anxiety – Sith J. Gillihan PhD

As suggested by the title, this book has a simple aim: to teach you how to use CBT to start treating your depression or anxiety in just seven weeks. The author is a therapist who has condensed his experience as a psychologist in this seven-week course that anybody can start taking.

This seven-week course is meant to teach you all about CBT and how you can use it yourself, and the goal is that by the end of seven weeks you will know enough to use CBT in the future whenever you need it.

This is an excellent choice for anyone who cannot or does not want to necessarily be guided by a therapist, but still wants to follow a concrete treatment plan.

6.

The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Workbook: A Comprehensive CBT Guide for Coping with Uncertainty, Worry, and Fear – Melissa Robichaud, Michael J. Dugas and Martin M. Antony

This book is aimed at people with a generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) who want to use CBT to reduce their anxiety symptoms. This means that it might be more helpful for people who struggle mightily with anxiety rather than those who only occasionally experience anxiety.

The authors are both CBT experts, as Robichaud is the co-founder of the Vancouver CBT Centre, so the lessons within come from respected authorities on CBT. This book is a good option for anyone who struggles with GAD and wants to put an end to their anxiety symptoms, including issues with fatigue and concentration.

7.

CBT For Anxiety Disorders: A Practitioner Book – Gregoris Simos and Stefan G. Hofmann

This book on CBT is meant to provide readers with extremely up-to-date information (as of 2013) on CBT, from new approaches to modern research developments. This makes it a good way to learn about CBT as it stands today, whether you know all about CBT or are just starting to learn about it.

It is meant to be for practitioners, whether they are practicing therapists or studying to be therapists, and is an excellent way for anyone who wants to know the state of CBT in the modern world, not just as it was first conceptualized a few decades ago.

8.

Starving the Anxiety Gremlin: A Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Workbook on Anxiety Management for Young People (Gremlin and Thief CBT Workbooks) – Kate Collins-Donnelly

This book is aimed at young children with anxiety who might not even yet understand the idea of anxiety. It conceptualizes anxiety as a “gremlin” which children can either feed or starve with anxious thoughts, or the lack thereof.

The target audience is children 10 years old or older, and they can either work through the book with a parent or therapist or work through the book by themselves.

This book is an excellent way to teach children about anxiety as well as ways they can manage their anxiety on their own.

9.

Change Your Thinking: Overcome Stress, Anxiety, and Depression, and Improve Your Life with CBT – Sara Edelman PhD

This book is focused on teaching the reader ways they can use the teachings of CBT to conquer their feelings of anxiety, along with their feelings of stress or depression.

The author conceptualizes anxiety-, stress-, and depression-causing thoughts as “thinking errors” and teaches you how to recognize and respond to these when they occur.

The idea is that eventually, after learning enough about CBT, you can stop these thoughts before they even come to mind. The book is written for a non-academic audience, but the author is a certified psychologist with decades of experience in the field and with CBT.

10.

Treatment Plans and Interventions for Depression and Anxiety Disorders, Second Edition – Robert Leahy PhD, Stephen J.F. Holland and McGinn, Lata McGinn PhD

This book is a comprehensive approach to using CBT to treat major depressive disorder, along with six anxiety disorders. The authors describe many different ways CBT can be administered and provide evidence to back up their claims.

The book also includes several worksheets and exercises that can be incorporated into a treatment plan. Any therapist who is looking to start administering CBT in their practice can look to this book to help them develop a complete treatment plan for anxiety or depression.

Download 3 Free Positive CBT Tools Pack (PDF)

By filling out your name and email address below.

5 Best-Selling CBT Books on Amazon

These are the 5 best Amazon bestsellers about CBT, for people who like books that have already been proven popular and useful by many readers before them.

1.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: 7 Ways to Freedom from Anxiety, Depression and Intrusive Thoughts – Lawrence Wallace

This book is aimed at people dealing with anxiety, depression, or other types of negative, intrusive thoughts. It is a written by someone who used the teachings of CBT to get over their own issues with these thoughts and incorporates Buddhist and Stoic teachings along with CBT to deliver a treatment plan to the reader.

This book is not meant for therapists and is not written by a clinician, but it has found success as a self-help manual using the teachings of CBT.

2.

Mind Over Mood, Second Edition: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think – Dennis Greenberger, Christine A. Padesky and Aaron T. Beck

The authors of this book claim it has been used by over 1,000,000 people to conquer various issues, from eating disorders to anxiety to addiction. This second edition includes 20 more years of research backing up CBT’s effectiveness.

The book includes several CBT-based strategies and exercises you can use to conquer whatever is blocking your wellbeing, with personalized exercises for issues like depression and guilt.

This is an excellent option for anyone who likes proven commodities, as this has been an influential CBT book for non-clinicians for decades.

3.

The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook – Edmund J. Bourne

This book, now in its sixth edition, has been used for decades to help treat a variety of disorders, including GAD, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

It is aimed at people who struggle with these disorders, as well as clinicians who are working with people who struggle with these disorders.

While it is aimed at a variety of disorders, it is best suited for people who deal with anxiety and phobias, as the title suggests. This is a great option for anyone who works best with a program they know they can trust, as this book has been teaching people CBT for thirty years.

4.

DBT Skills Training Manual, Second Edition – Marsha M. Linehan

This book is not about CBT, but dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), which is a subset of CBT. DBT was originally developed by the author for the treatment of borderline personality disorder (BPD), but it is now used for other purposes such as treating eating disorders and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

This book is a comprehensive resource for any clinician administering DBT, as it includes several exercises and worksheets that clients can work through with or without their clinicians, along with serving as a guide to the therapist administering DBT.

This is a good way for a therapist familiar with CBT or not familiar with CBT to start learning about its subset treatment, DBT.

5.

The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook: Practical DBT Exercises for Learning Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotion Regulation & … (A New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook) – Matthew McKay, Jeffrey C.

and Jeffrey Brantley

This book is also focused on DBT, but it is slightly more oriented for self-help purposes than Linehan’s book. Clinicians can still find the book useful as a way to learn about DBT themselves, however.

The book contains several exercises for the purpose of building up four key skills in DBT: “distress tolerance, mindfulness, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness”.

The authors start with basic skills and then move on to more advanced skills, so people can use this to administer a full DBT treatment plan on themselves.

CBT Audio Books

Finally, these are the best audiobooks about CBT, for people who prefer listening to reading, or who would like to read books but just do not have the time.

1.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: A Practical Guide to CBT for Overcoming Anxiety, Depression, Addictions & Other Psychological Conditions [Audiobook] – Jane Aniston, Lesley Ann Fogle and Eddington Publishing

This audiobook aims to be an accessible, “jargon-free” way to learn about CBT so that listeners can quickly start treatment for a number of disorders. It is aimed at absolute beginners, so no matter how little you know about CBT you can start using its teachings in your own life.

The author also highlights the fact that even people who are not necessarily diagnosed with anything can use CBT to improve their levels of wellbeing, making this book an excellent option for anyone who wants more control over their thought patterns.

2.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: Your Route out of Perfectionism, Self-Sabotage and Other Everyday Habits with CBT [Audiobook] – Avy Joseph, Ruth Sillers and Audible Studios

This audiobook, from CBT practitioner Avy Joseph, is meant to show the listener ways they can use CBT to start feeling better about their lives. While the author claims CBT can help all sorts of people improve their wellbeing, the book focuses, especially on anxiety, resilience, and self-belief.

The audiobook walks through several scenarios that the listener might come upon in life and discusses different ways to react to those scenarios.

3.

Confidence and Success with CBT [Audiobook] – Avy Joseph, Ruth Sillers and Audible Studios

Co-written by the same author as above (and narrated by the same person from the above book as well), this book focuses on using CBT to increase your levels of confidence for the purpose of finding success in your life.

This audiobook is especially aimed at people who want to increase their levels of wellbeing independent of any disorders. It can also serve as a resource for therapists who want to help their clients use CBT to increase their levels of wellbeing.

Either of these audiobooks by Avy Joseph is a good option for anyone who wants to listen and learn about CBT from the perspective of an expert.

4.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Beginners: How to Use CBT to Overcome Anxieties, Phobias, Addictions, Depression, Negative Thoughts, and Other Problematic Disorders [Audiobook] – Maddison Taylor, Jim D. Johnston and Make Profits Easy LLC

This audiobook serves as a brief introduction to CBT for absolute beginners. The author walks through what CBT is and what it is used for but does not dive too deeply into specific treatment plans or exercises that might constitute a CBT treatment plan.

This is a good option for someone who wants to learn just a little bit about CBT to see if it is right for them, rather than someone looking for a comprehensive book which will help them put together a treatment plan.

5. Cognitive-Behavioral

Therapy: CBT Techniques to Manage Your Anxiety, Depression, Compulsive Behavior, PTSD, Negative Thoughts and Phobias [Audiobook] – Yasmin Bill, Jeannette Lehr and John Leddy

This audiobook is another extremely brief introduction to CBT for absolute beginners, but it relates CBT to mindfulness as well. This makes it a good option for anyone who is already interested in mindfulness who wants to start learning about CBT and how it can benefit their lives.

Like the above audiobook, it will not serve as a comprehensive introduction and will certainly not help you develop a treatment plan, but it can help you decide whether or not CBT is the right option for you. Either this book or the above book are good options for people who prefer to sample ideas before they dive too deeply into them.

6. Mind Body Baby: How to Overcome Stress and Enhance Your Fertility with CBT, Mindfulness and Good Nutrition [Audiobook] – Ann Bracken and Yellow Kite

Finally, this audiobook focuses on CBT as it relates to fertility, making it an attractive choice for anyone who is trying to have a baby. The book is written by a fertility specialist, and includes a chapter on nutrition by a nutritionist, making it an authoritative approach to CBT for the purposes of increasing fertility levels.

The author also incorporates principles of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), so anyone who is already familiar with MBSR will find this audiobook an excellent way to start learning about CBT for fertility.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Dummies (Short review + Summary)

This book discusses CBT for the purposes of using it to treat anxiety, addiction, or several other issues in your own life. Two therapists, Rhena Branch and Rob Wilson, who use CBT in their own practices, wrote it.

As a book in the “for Dummies” series, it is meant to be accessible and easy-to-read, but the extremely-qualified authors ensure that it is still based in evidence-based research.

This is an excellent option for clients who want to learn about CBT, regardless of their knowledge of the subject or knowledge of any psychological subjects.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Teach Yourself (Short review + Summary)

The updated edition of one of the first books on CBT for the masses, this book will first teach you what CBT is, then teach you how to use it for your benefit.

The author is involved with the National Health Service of the United Kingdom’s committee on how to treat depression, but the book discusses the use of CBT for other thought patterns as well.

This book is a good mix of academically-informed and accessible so the information continued within is accurate but easily-digestible.

A Take-Home Message

CBT is an exciting therapy which has a wide range of intended purposes, and it can be used with or without the aid of a therapist. All of these books are good ways to learn about CBT, but some of them have more specific purposes than others (for example, treating anxiety rather than eating disorders).

It should also be noted that some are written by psychologists with years of CBT experience, while others are written by people who have used CBT to improve their own lives, and some readers may have a preference for one type of author over the other. Make sure that you do some research before picking a book on CBT so that you learn about it in a way that can best benefit your specific situation.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. For more information, don’t forget to download our three Positive CBT Exercises for free.

7 Best Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Books in 2023 – Mental Health Center Kids

By: Michael Vallejo, LCSW, September 25, 2022

Key Takeaways:

CBT helps with a wide range of mental health problems.
Books on CBT are useful if you want to apply CBT strategies on your own.
They also provide ideas for mental health professionals to support their clients better.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) teaches us to control our thoughts and it’s considered the gold standard of treatment for most mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and eating disorders[*].

Looking to learn more about CBT? I’ve created this list of cognitive behavioral therapy books that will serve as helpful resources. These CBT books contain terminology, science-based techniques, and sample scenarios that will help you understand and apply it in your own life or therapy sessions.

The Best Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Books

Note that these books on CBT therapy are not arranged in any specific order. However, I’ve made sure to add Judith S. Beck (the daughter of Aaron Beck, father of CBT) as the first author on the list.

1.

Best Book for CBT Professionals: Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Basics and Beyond — Judith S. Beck

This book is being used by hundreds of thousands of clinicians and graduate students. Written by Judith S. Beck, a master clinician, researcher, and daughter of Aaron Beck, it guides professionals on how to properly structure their therapy sessions and incorporate CBT techniques. Be sure to choose the third edition of this CBT book since it has new chapters on the therapeutic relationship and integrating mindfulness.

Price: $40 on Amazon, $62 at Guildford Press

2. Best Book for Depression and Anxiety: Retrain Your Brain: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in 7 Weeks — Seth J. Gillihan PhD

One of the best books on CBT available on Amazon, “Retrain Your Brain” is for anyone who needs help managing anxiety and depression through CBT. What makes this resource unique is that it features a 7-week plan based on the author’s real-life strategy with his clients. It also includes real-life scenarios that readers can relate to. If you’re someone struggling with these mental health issues but you’re not seeing a therapist yet, consider getting this book.

Price: $10.29 on Amazon, $14.49 at Barnes & Noble

3. Best Book On Intrusive Thoughts: Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts: A CBT-Based Guide to Getting Over Frightening, Obsessive, or Disturbing Thoughts — Sally M. Winston PsyD and Martin N. Seif PhD

Intrusive thoughts cannot be completely avoided, but they can be controlled with the help of CBT. In this therapist-recommended book, readers discover how intrusive thoughts work, why your previous strategies were not effective, and how you can finally overcome these thoughts for good. You’ll love that the information and exercises here that are presented in a simple and understandable way.

Price: $14.39 on Amazon, $19.99 on Barnes & Noble

4. Best Book On Anxiety Disorders: CBT For Anxiety Disorders: A Practitioner Book — Gregoris Simos and Stefan G.

Hofmann

This is the best cognitive behavioral therapy book for those who are currently practicing as therapists or planning to become one. There are plenty of research data and treatment strategies in this book that you can use for obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders, generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobias, and more.

Price: $59.25 on Amazon, $59.25 at Barnes & Noble

5. Best Book for Clinicians and Clients: Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think — Dennis Greenberger and Christine A. Padesky

According to the authors, “Mind Over Mood” has helped over 1.2 million readers use CBT for conditions like low self-esteem, guilt, shame, and panic attacks. Aaron Beck also recommends this book as “an effective tool that puts cognitive therapy in the hands of the reader.” It includes action plans and multiple worksheets that you can photocopy and reproduce for your personal or professional use in your therapy practice.

Price: $23.95 on Amazon, $23.95 at Barnes & Noble

6. Best Book for Initiating Change: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Your route out of perfectionism, self-sabotage and other everyday habits — Avy Joseph

This is a newly revised version written by a CBT practitioner and counselor. It acknowledges the fact that change can be difficult, but by changing your views, you can move forward with your life and even reach your goals. As a beginner-friendly resource, it starts by providing a background of CBT and discusses healthy and unhealthy beliefs. Plus, it includes insights on staying mentally healthy in a post-pandemic world.

Price: $17.99 on Amazon, $17.99 at Barnes & Noble

7. Best Book for Beginners: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Beginners: How To Use CBT To Overcome Anxieties, Phobias, Addictions, Depression, Negative Thoughts, And Other Problematic Disorders — Madison Taylor

Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, addiction, and negative thoughts, this book provides a good introduction to CBT. It’s not as detailed and comprehensive as the other books listed here, but if you need something to help you decide if CBT is right for you, this may help and leave you wanting to learn more.

Price: $5.37 on Amazon, $9.99 at Barnes & Noble

More Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Resources

Change the way you think or help your patients improve their thinking by reading at least one of these cognitive behavioral therapy books this year. Before getting one for yourself, make sure to research the topics covered in each book and what customers are saying.

For more CBT resources, check out our CBT worksheets. Our worksheets provide visual and written engagement to support different modalities of learning, which can enhance traditional talk or play therapy.

Theory of Constraints and Lean Manufacturing

Photo: O. Cowan

Oded Cowen's article was first published in Russian in December 2009 in the collection Theory of Constraints. Creating a decisive competitive advantage. Kyiv, Alexey Kapusta Publishing House.

Many managers looking for ways to improve operations often ask themselves the question: should they apply TOC (Theory of Constraints) or implement Lean (Lean Manufacturing)? Both approaches pursue the same goal - flow management and continuous improvement. And they can work together. In this article, I want to show how TOC and lean are related and how to best combine them in management.

From either/or to together

Over the past two centuries, the management world, and in particular production and operations management, has seen a variety of approaches and philosophies. In recent years there has been an ongoing debate as to what constitutes Theory of Constraints as compared to other concepts. The purpose of such a comparison is to find out which is better - and thus reveal the magic approach that will answer all the questions of managers and ensure the company that implements it, eternal prosperity and success.

Reality is not so wonderful. A large number of companies at one time received awards and recognition for the introduction of new management theories in the field of production. But for very few, it can be said that their growth and financial results over the years are based on the management approach they use. In the late 80s, many studies were carried out to compare TOC and TQM (Total Quality Management, total quality management). In response to this, Eli Goldratt, in one of his articles, criticized the "either-or" approach and suggested moving towards "together". If different management approaches have the same goal, why not create a combined approach in which the strengths of both methods would complement each other, while covering the weaknesses of each of them? Many organizations have taken this position and added TOC to their TQM.

From the same point of view, Dr. Domenico Lepore and I wrote Deming and Goldratt (Domenico Lepore and Oded Cowan, Deming and Goldratt. North River Press, 1999). We have developed a 10-step approach, called the "Decalogue", which brings together the concepts and practical aspects of Deming's and Goldratt's theories. This book provided a sort of "bridge" that allowed Deming and TOC adherents to learn about each other and improve their results by using the ideas, concepts, methodologies, and procedures of a different approach.

In the same way, I would now like to contribute to the creation of a "bridge" between Lean and the Theory of Constraints.

In this article, I use my experience of working in a UK company two years after they successfully implemented Lean. She is engaged in the maintenance and repair of military equipment. In the first two years, the organization made noticeable improvements, but then the managers felt they couldn't squeeze more improvements out of the system. The plant manager read Dr. Goldratt's book The Purpose and invited us to visit their company. Immediately after that, we began working together to implement the principles of TOC, which in a few months led to improved results for their activities.

Both Theory of Constraints and Lean Manufacturing promote the idea of continuous improvement in production flow. In Standing on the Shoulders of Giants, Dr. Goldratt defines four basic flow management concepts:

Improving flow (or, equivalently, reducing cycle time) is the primary goal of operations management.
This primary task should be converted into a practical mechanism to tell production when not to produce (prevents overproduction).
Local performance indicators must be cancelled.
A focusing flow balancing process needs to be developed and implemented.

We will build on these four core concepts to see how they are implemented in TOC and Lean, and to take the best out of each approach.

After that, we can discuss practical ways to apply TOC in conjunction with Lean. Please note that in this article I am talking about production management. However, all of the above is also true for any environment in which there is a thread.

Concept #1. Improvement of flow (reduction of cycle time) is the main goal of operational management

TOC and Lean are in full agreement regarding concept #1. Production departments must complete each order on time, according to technical specifications (quality) and within established costs. Lead time is a critical factor in value creation because the company only receives money when the product is delivered to the customer and paid for by the customer.

Lean proposes to map the key elements of cycle time by describing the value stream. The value stream defines the total lead time. By mapping the value stream, management demonstrates to the entire company that the stream is of the utmost importance. The flow diagram is posted at key locations on the production floor so that everyone understands the flow and their own role in creating value. To improve a system, we must understand it and see where it starts and how its main components are connected.

Description of the value stream helps to focus the attention of management and all employees on the stream and creates a platform for continuous improvement to which other Lean tools can be applied. The activities within the value stream are grouped into production cells in such a way that the time to complete each group of activities is approximately the same. Typically, grouped operations are performed by one production cell. The execution time of a group of operations is called takt time. The total expected lead time is calculated by multiplying the takt time by the number of activity groups. The calculated lead time is used for planning and scheduling of deliveries when concluding agreements with customers.

Theory of Constraints similarly recognizes the critical role of lead time in flow management—planning and controlling execution and ensuring continuous improvement.

However, TOC offers a shorter route to getting the system up and running and bringing immediate improvements. This is achieved using the Production Buffer (PB) mechanism. The production buffer is the time allotted for production from the release of an order into production until it is completed. The term "buffer" is used in TOC to emphasize that this time is longer than the average required for processing on machines (machine time). It also includes time to change equipment, waiting in line in front of occupied equipment, waiting for missing parts in an assembly, and time allotted for unforeseen problems (Murphy's Law). In most production environments, machine time is a very small (1% or less) part of the production cycle time. (Note that an environment where machine time is more than 10% of production time.)

Simplified Drum-Buffer-Rope (SDBR) is TOC's solution for custom production. The UBBC mechanism uses a production buffer to control the flow. When machine time is so short compared to the time an order spends in production, there is no need for detailed value stream mapping. When introducing UBBC, we propose to set a tight but achievable size of the production buffer - it should be less than the time spent on production before the application of TOC.

Production buffer management provides managers with the same focus as a value stream. The advantage of the production buffer mechanism lies in the simplicity and speed of implementation of this solution and its integration into information systems. In some cases, management may use simple Excel files to manage the flow.

Another difference in the approaches is that the theory of constraints is immediately and openly committed to the concept of flow improvement. To successfully implement a TOC solution, leaders must accept that flow is the number one priority. And to fix the fulfillment of orders on time as a primary indicator of the activity of the production unit. Then, as UBBC is introduced, the initially set production buffer sizes are systematically adjusted to reduce cycle times and give the company a competitive advantage in the market.

The main difference between TOC and Lean in terms of maintaining and tracking flow lies in the mechanisms used. Since it is not economically viable to create highly specialized production lines that are highly efficient but only suitable for the production of a large volume of repeatable products (for example, cars, electronic equipment, etc. ), Lean tries to imitate such lines with the concept of tact. Tact is the mechanism that sets the pace for the value stream. The workstations (groups of machines) are organized in such a way that they have approximately the same processing time. After each takt time, the production order must move from one workstation to the next. Essentially, the flow is set, and the job of the workstations is to maintain the prescribed rhythm.

For example, the aforementioned maintenance and repair company had 14 workstations covering the entire value stream with a takt time of 2.5 days. This determined the total cycle time - 50 days. Compared to the 70 days they started with, this was a significant improvement. The stability of production has increased, the number of units of equipment delivered on time has increased.

However, the takt time approach has several disadvantages:

It is not always easy to group operations into one workstation in a way that matches the takt time.
To compensate for fluctuations in the execution of operations, the takt time contains a margin. The possible time gain from positive deviations (when a station completes a task earlier than expected) is not passed on to the next station in the stream, but is wasted waiting for transmission time.
The takt time must be the same for all items that are produced on the line. Because of this, flexibility and the ability to produce different products using the same resources are reduced.

The TOC solution addresses these shortcomings. Once an order is put into production, once it has been processed on one machine/work center, it can immediately move to the next work center in the stream. The sequence of order processing is set in accordance with priorities, which are determined using the Buffer Management mechanism. It ensures that production orders from the most cycle, requiring a special modification of this TOC solution for production near delivery dates, are given the highest priority. The TOC solution takes into account the possibility of producing different products with different production cycles, as well as the possibility of passing urgent orders through the flow - with a shorter than standard lead time (delivered at a price higher than the standard one).

Problems at work? Need to improve performance?

Our experts will find the bottleneck, develop a solution and increase sales.
We have been improving manufacturing plants in Russia and the CIS for over 20 years.
We participate in the national project "Improving labor productivity" as experts.

LEARN MORE

Concept #2. Overproduction Prevention

Production needs a practical mechanism to tell when not to produce (to prevent overproduction). With respect to this concept of flow control, TOC and Lean are also completely consistent, although their mechanisms of action are different.

Lean prevents overproduction using two main methods:

Work in progress (WIP) and the launch of new orders are controlled by the number of empty sites available. The number of places for temporary storage (when the order is simply "lying" and no work is being done on it) is limited. Ideally, starting a new production order (which means starting work on it at the first work center) occurs only after one order has been completed and left the last work center of the value stream. The number of orders in the value stream is fixed. When one exits the value stream, only then does a new one enter. For the military equipment maintenance and repair company I was talking about, the one-in-one-in mechanism was of the utmost importance. Prior to the introduction of lean manufacturing, there was a tendency to start dismantling technical units as soon as they appeared in the repair depot, regardless of whether parts were available to continue working on this vehicle or not. When there were no parts, the dismantled equipment accumulated in anticipation of the arrival of parts, creating queues and congestion in the flow. This increased the downtime of equipment in a non-working condition at the repair depot.
Assembly points use a '2 bin' approach for supply chain parts and components. The parts available for use in the assembly are stored in two drawers. As soon as one crate is empty, a signal is sent to the supply chain to produce and deliver a full crate to replace the empty one.

Both of these mechanisms prevent overproduction. The first captures the number of orders in work in progress by the number of value stream work centers. The second one limits the number of WIPs to only two boxes. As long as people follow the instructions, it's impossible to put more material into production than is needed.

At the same time, it is important to be aware of the following disadvantages:

This approach is applicable only in an environment with a high degree of repetition and with stable demand over a long time (several years).
It is applicable for products with the same structure and approximately the same production time.
The concept of the value stream does not allow "express service" for certain production orders. All orders must move along the same stream and in the sequence in which they entered this stream.
The value stream does not address supply lines that supply parts and assemblies to value stream work centers. Introducing a value stream mechanism for all feeding processes is both impossible and impractical.

Because the value stream in our repair company was suffering from a shortage of parts, some vehicles ended up in the flow unfinished and were placed in a holding area until the missing parts arrived. Sometimes such a technique was simply removed from the value stream in order not to block the movement of other units. As a result, the lack of parts caused disruptions in the flow and damaged the timeliness of deliveries.

Problems with the availability of parts and components for assembly at this repair facility were the main reason why the company turned to the Theory of Constraints. UBBC offers a simple overproduction prevention mechanism without the above disadvantages. It is called "rope" and means "holding" the release of materials into production. The order is not released until the estimated start date. This date is calculated as "the agreed delivery time minus the production buffer time". "Kanat" reduces the number of open orders, which leads to a decrease in the overall load on equipment and resources. Open orders receive the right priorities and due to better equipment availability are completed on time. Therefore, the correct implementation of UBBK in a short time brings significant improvements to production, expressed in an increase in the level of order fulfillment on time and a decrease in the amount of WIP. The “rope” mechanism is used not only in the main thread, but also applies to feeding processes. Once a delivery date has been agreed with the customer, the same production buffer that is set for the entire order is also used to signal the supply processes to begin activities aimed at providing the assembly with the required parts.

The UBBR mechanisms described above - "buffer" and "rope" - provide a simple and practical solution to prevent overproduction without the risk of missing delivery dates.

Concept #3. Local performance indicators should be abolished

This is an interesting point. Conceptually, TOC and Lean should be in perfect harmony. It is necessary to abolish such an indicator of the level of activity as efficiency / productivity and stop using costing for making managerial decisions. Otherwise, there is a real danger that such decisions will lead to local efficiency, and this will have a negative impact on the flow. Dr. Taichi Ohno, author of the Toyota Production System (TPS), admitted that in order for his system to work, he had to constantly fight with accountants who calculate cost allocation, and even remove them from factories.

By the way, TPS is not pure Lean. In fact, Toyota employees in Japan do not agree with the use of the term "lean manufacturing" to describe their system. Descriptions of Lean include many techniques and methodologies. But nothing is said about what to do with local efficiency indicators. Therefore, when implementing Lean, there are certain risks. Local leaders may realize that in order for Lean to work, they must abandon local performance metrics. But if managers do not know how to replace these indicators, then they can lose control and will not understand what to base their decisions on.

The topic of abandoning local efficiency has been at the forefront of the theory of constraints since the early 1980s. In addition to the requirement to stop using local performance indicators to measure and evaluate the performance of departments, equipment or employees (“what to change?”), TOC also offers methods to replace local performance indicators (“what to change to?”).

For example:

Accepting delivery of orders on time as the main indicator of production activity:
- Due Date Performance (DDP). Shows the level of reliability of supply in accordance with obligations to customers and represents the percentage of orders delivered on time (on the agreed date, or earlier, but never later) of the total number of orders.
- Throughput Dollar Days (TDD). Displays the financial damage from late orders and the number of days late. Late delivery of orders causes financial damage to the company, as it has a negative impact on cash flow. The indicator is the amount of money that could already be in the company's accounts, multiplied by the number of days during which the money could work in the interests of the company.
TOC Management Accounting provides management with a set of operational metrics that link local decisions and actions to the global level of activity:
- Throughput, T. This is cash generated by the system. This indicator is calculated by subtracting fully variable costs from sales revenue for a certain period.
- Totally Variable Costs (TVC). These include the costs of purchasing raw materials and components to produce products to be sold, or the costs of purchasing products for resale.
- Investment (I). This is the money invested in the system, including production sites, equipment and raw materials.
- Operating Expenses (OE). All the money that is spent to make the company work and generate a “passage”.

The Theory of Constraints promotes the idea that production management should focus on flow. If flow is the most important thing, then everything else (quality and cost) will fall into place and be under control. In the decision of UBBC, the first letter "B" means "drum" (Drum). This is the concept according to which customer orders act as the leading element (driver) of the production system. In other words, the company's commitment is what dictates how the production system works.

There is no conflict between TOC and Lean regarding the third concept. The issue of local efficiency is simply not part of Lean.

Concept #4. It is necessary to develop and implement a focusing flow balancing process

This is an area in which TOC and Lean are not only fully coordinated, but can also work absolutely synchronously.

To balance the flow, any obstacles and obstructions in its movement must be considered and eliminated. When we do this, we allow production to “flow” better and faster. This is exactly the place where all Lean techniques and tools can be applied.

Flow disturbances can occur due to power loss due to equipment failure, quality problems, process instability, long changeovers, etc. Lean offers very powerful tools and ways to deal with these problems.

Theory of Constraints is a managerial approach. It helps identify problem areas in the flow that need to be improved. But in TOC there are no tricks for technical improvement. TOC relies heavily on Lean to drive technical improvements where they will contribute the most to improve flow.

When implementing TOC, lean practices are applied as part of a continuous improvement process. Due to the fact that Lean does not call for the abandonment of local efficiency measures, the use of its mechanisms in isolation from the global view of the flow causes concern on the part of TOC. If the indicators of local efficiency are not eliminated, then most management decisions are made on the basis of cost accounting. This can lead to the fact that the efforts invested in improvements go to waste. For example, reducing changeover times is a very powerful tool. It can greatly improve the flow. If we have a machine with a lack of power, then reducing changeover times will free up extra power that can improve flow. However, if a long changeover time is required for an unrestricted machine (less than 70% loaded), then reducing changeover time will not necessarily improve flow or increase throughput. And since the machine operator is paid by the hour, the company will not get any appreciable return on the effort invested in reducing changeover times.

Theory of Constraints focuses the attention of managers. The highest priority for improvements should be given to resources with limited capacity, that is, those that do not have enough capacity to maintain the flow. The next priority for improvement should be unconstrained resources that cause disruptions to constrained resources or result in significant flow delay.

TOC offers a powerful focusing mechanism for the continuous improvement process called "buffer management". This is part of the UBBC solution. As long as the production order is in production, its status (in terms of production buffer time consumption) is constantly monitored, and the system regularly requests a sample of data about the flow and requires you to specify the reason why the order cannot move forward (that is, why he is waiting). For example, it can wait until a resource becomes free, or late materials arrive, or technical documentation arrives from engineering departments, and so on. These reasons are recorded and analyzed. Regular meetings (ideally weekly) review the results of statistical analysis and decide on improvement initiatives to address the most recurring issues that lead to disruptions in the flow.

Lean techniques are used for these improvement initiatives. Some disturbances in the flow can be caused by human factors, such as lack of necessary skills, knowledge, information, authority, etc. Cause analysis can be carried out using the TOC thought process tools, which will also help to find solutions to eliminate them.

TOC and Lean work together! And such cooperation is beneficial for everyone. If you have not yet decided whether to implement TOC or Lean, then I recommend that you make a list of what you want to get from the implementation. Define criteria and test both approaches against those criteria. Then make a decision based on what is more useful and preferable for your company.

Share this post:

The Devil's Girlfriend read online by Peter Robinson (Page 23)

- And you weren't worried about her?

— No.

“But they didn’t expect her at home,” Banks reminded. “So where do you think she was going to spend the night?”

- Probably with friends.

- So, not with you, but with someone else. And you were jealous. You didn't go looking for her?

- I just explained that I tried to keep this relationship from taking center stage in my life. And besides, I believed Hayley. An overnight stay at a friend's is not a reason to believe that she went to bed with him. His vision blurred. “By the way,” he added after a pause, “I actually hoped she wouldn’t come. It was always difficult to communicate with her when she was ... inadequate, and on Saturday I felt tired.

- It's hard to communicate with her when she's under the fly, is that what you mean? Banks asked.

- Yes.

— Well, what did she become?

- Eccentric, unpredictable, too talkative.

— And when Hayley was staying at your place, did she happen to come after one in the morning?

- I don't remember. No, she came before. Besides, she had her own key.

- You trusted her a lot.

— That's what love is, Inspector. You should finally understand this.

Banks scratched the scar over his right eye:

— You lied to us at least once or twice, so why should we believe what you are telling now?

- Yes, because it's true.

- It's easier for you to say than to believe me. And you put yourself in my place. Hayley, being in the strongest drunk, goes to your house. You are sick to death of her drunken antics, and you inform her in no uncertain terms and in a rather blunt manner. Suppose she starts making fun of you, laughing at your age or something else. You get angry. She doesn't want to make love to you, but she's drunk and you don't care if she wants to or not. You want and that's enough. And you do what you want. She resists, fights you, but it only inflames you. She ends up making an unimaginable noise, maybe even threatening to tell the college what you did to her. Then you get scared and start to choke her. Now we need to get rid of the body. How? Load it into the trunk of your car and dump it somewhere in the Labyrinth. - There were several inconsistencies in Banks' improvisation: in fact, there was a rape in a rude and perverted form, and Austin did not light up on the CCTV tapes. But how was the professor to know about this? Well, how do you like my story?

“You should write detective stories,” Austin replied. “I must admit, you surprised me: having such an imagination, in the police you simply bury your talent in the ground.

“You would be even more surprised if you knew how useful imagination is in my profession,” Banks objected. So am I close to the truth?

— Hundreds of miles separate you from the truth. Austin leaned back in his chair. “Look, Inspector, you'd be in a lot of trouble if you believed I didn't kill Hayley Daniels. You can think whatever you want about me. I will say one thing: I loved her and if I could help you, I would. Looking over at Winsome, he added, “Yes, I lied, forgive me for that, but I was afraid of losing my job and didn’t want my name to be smeared in the dirt. It was for these two reasons that I then told a lie.

- How well did you know Hailey? Banks asked.

- I think that's good enough. We were together for almost two months, but met about a year ago. I know what you are going to ask, so my answer is: for the first ten months there was nothing between us. After a moment's hesitation, he added, "I don't want you to get a bad impression of me." Whatever you've been told about Hailey's behavior that Saturday night, it's…just youthful savagery. Only and everything. She needed to let off steam sometimes, and anyone who knew her would attest to that. Hailey was an intelligent, sensible, calm, talkative, hardworking and ambitious young woman. That's what I meant when I said that she is developed beyond her years. She considered peers boring and obsessed with only one desire.

— Weren't you obsessed with him?

- I confess that communication with Hayley became an incentive for me in the sexual aspect, but please do not consider this aspect to be decisive.

— Well, what did your relationship look like in general?

- We had lunch together. Talked. Walked. They held hands. We had breakfast in bed. We went to concerts. Listened to classical music. We hugged. They discussed the books they read. They behaved like any couple in love. I couldn't wait until we finally didn't have to hide from people. It was just right to go crazy from this conspiracy ... You can’t even imagine how I will suffer without it!

Banks was seized with a feeling akin to jealousy. He had not had such a relationship for God knows how many years, and had they ever been? With Sandra, his ex-wife, Banks did not have the same tastes and interests so much that their lives did not flow together, but rather in parallel. And when these parallels began to diverge, the end quickly came. Even in their relationship with Annie, there was a lot more in common between them than they had in common. Here Banks braced himself: he would not allow this sudden sentimentality to obscure the true image of Austin.

“You said you wanted to help us,” said Banks, breaking the pause. “If you didn’t kill her, then who do you think could have done it?”

- I have no idea. Probably, this is the work of some maniac.

"We don't rule out the possibility," Winsome agreed. Did she have enemies? Conflicts?

— Conflicts? Except perhaps with Stuart Kinsey: his courtship at times became tediously importunate.

- I remember you said that he "won't hurt a fly."

"I still think so," Austin replied. “However, Haley had no conflicts with anyone else, just as there were no enemies.

“We did find one,” said Banks with a sigh, rising from his chair. Thank you, Malcolm, for your time. And don't go anywhere. We may have to talk to you again.

Persistent and rejected. This combination is very, very unpleasant, and Banks knew this firsthand. And if you take into account the fact that Stuart Kinsey went to the Labyrinth - supposedly to watch Hayley and track down who she was going to meet there - then there is both a motive and an opportunity. Yes, now is the time to talk to Mr. Kinsey again.

The journey from Whitby to Leeds took almost an hour and a half, sometimes more depending on the traffic. Annie drove down the highway for the second time in the past two days. The bitter aftertaste from the ill-fated lunch with Eric still lay on the soul. It took a little time for the boy to show himself in the true light! Annie was worried that Eric probably had more photos on his phone or computer. What does he intend to do with them? Post them on YouTube? [YouTube is an Internet site for hosting video files (English).] But she, she! That's a mossy fool! And the fact that she drank too much does not justify her. Her hands clutched the steering wheel involuntarily, and her clenched teeth gritted as she recalled their conversation. Undoubtedly, rudeness gave him sadistic pleasure, but is what he said true? Had she really desired him so desperately that night and thanked him for the pleasure he had given him?

On her way to Brimley, Annie turned off Stenningley Road onto Hill Street. The Paynes lived at the top of the street, near the railway bridge, while Claire Tos and her family lived almost opposite. Their house was in a row of old mansions surrounded by sprawling, unkempt gardens. Annie had last driven through here six years ago: cops everywhere, brightly colored tape around the crime scene. Now, of course, it’s quiet and smooth here, there is no house number thirty-five. No one wanted to live in the "Payne house", [The name Payne is close in sound to the word "pain" - pain. // Here and below with an error; correctly "und so weiter". — Approx. typesetter. ] as the newspapers called the dwelling of the bloodthirsty couple. It was demolished and two single-family red brick houses were built.

Slowing down, Annie shuddered at the memory of the first time she entered the basement: a raunchy poster of a woman with legs spread, dampness, strong smells of blood and urine, occult symbols on the walls. Annie was lucky then: before her arrival, the body of Kimberly Myers and the blood-soaked mattresses had already been taken away.

Annie's imagination swirled with the ghosts of poor girls raped, tortured and buried here. And Lucy, the same woman with her throat cut in a wheelchair, was an accomplice in these crimes. Banks interrogated Lucy many times and at length, first as a victim and then as a possible suspect, and she definitely made an impression on him, although he still denies it. However, neither Banks nor other investigators were able to find out what really happened in this basement.

Annie parked her car near the steps of the stairs leading to the front door of Claire's house and sat in the car for a while, trying to collect herself and collect her thoughts.

Get over your pride and talk to Banks. Only now, in no case do not drink before a date! She made a fool of herself in front of him. so what? Not the first time and certainly not the last. She will explain everything to him. He will understand. God is a witness, he knows how to understand. He won't take her by the ear out of the house! Why had she been so frightened by this minor incident? It turned out, of course, somehow not in a feminine way ... or rather, Annie resolutely did not recognize herself in that woman who stumbled into the house of her former lover and carried some kind of nonsense there. No, she's not like that at all!.. But what kind? That's what Annie would like to know.

She climbed the steep steps and walked through the garden, noting to herself that since that time it has become even thicker, has grown and now the plants climbing along the high fence almost completely hide the house from pedestrians walking along the sidewalk. Opening the gate, Annie climbed the last flight of stairs.

A peeling front door with traces of dog or cat claws clearly needed painting. The small lawn in front of the windows is overgrown with weeds. Annie didn't yet know how to deal with Claire, whether to consider her a serious suspect. And if not, how to find out from her something useful for the investigation? One way or another, but the appearance of Annie is sure to open old wounds. She took a deep breath and tapped her knuckles on the frosted glass.

The door was opened by a woman in a blue knitted sweater and gray slacks.

— Mrs Tos? Annie asked.

— Yes, honey, it's me. And you, therefore, are Inspector Cabbot. Come in, please. Claire hasn't returned yet, but I'm expecting her any minute.

Annie followed her into a high-ceilinged living room with a bay window. There was a TV in the corner. The show "Daily Cooks" has just begun, to which the imposing French chef Jean Christophe Novelli was invited today. It suddenly occurred to Annie that this handsome Frenchman would never kill himself over a night accidentally spent in someone's bed. Mrs. Tos didn't turn off the TV, only turned the volume down when Annie asked her to, and kept a close eye on the screen as they talked. She offered Annie some tea, Annie gratefully accepted. Alone for a while in the gloomy living room, Annie went to the window and looked at the light, like handfuls of down, clouds floating across the blue sky. Another wonderful spring day. The air is so transparent that it seems as if you can see the distant Pennines if you wish.

Mrs. Tos came in with a tray in her hands, and at the same moment the front door opened and slammed shut, and a second later a young woman in a uniform dressing gown, like supermarket saleswomen wear, appeared on the threshold. Without saying a word, she tore off her dressing gown with one movement and casually threw it on a chair.

— Claire! her mother exclaimed indignantly. “I asked you a thousand times to hang up your clothes.

Claire gave Annie a sidelong glance in search of sympathy and put her robe on a hanger. Annie had never seen her before, and therefore did not know what to expect from her and what to prepare for. Claire, meanwhile, took a pack of Dunhill out of her purse and popped a cigarette into her mouth, flicking Bic on the lighter. Annie surreptitiously peered at her: blond, not quite clean hair tied back in a knot, dressed in jeans and a white men's shirt. Annie also noted that the girl would do well to lose weight: jeans were tight around her thick hips, her stomach hung over the belt in a flabby roller. Unhealthy facial skin, puffy loose cheeks, teeth yellow from nicotine. Claire was nothing like the lean, slender woman Mel Danvers had seen at Mapston Hall, and she couldn't have been 40, despite her plumpness.

Lighting a cigarette, Claire poured herself a glass of wine without inviting Annie to join. True, Annie did not burn with the desire to drink - now tea suited her more than wine.

Mrs. Tos, seated in an armchair in the corner, began to sip her tea, after each sip she put the cup back on the saucer with a clatter. The culinary advice of Jean Christophe Novelli served as a soft soundtrack to the ensuing conversation.

- Mom says you are from the police. What do you need from me? Claire asked.

— Have you watched the news in recent days? Annie answered a question with a question.

- Actually, I don't really care about the news.

- Do you know that Lucy Payne was killed recently?

Claire slowly lowered the glass brought to her lips:

— She was killed?.. But she's an invalid, isn't she?

Annie nodded. Claire took a sip, dragged on her cigarette and shrugged her shoulders:

“So what do you want to hear from me?” What do I mourn for her passing?

- Do you grieve?

— Well, no! You know what this woman did.

“Yes, I know,” Annie replied.

- And you left her free.

"That's not quite right, Claire," Annie tried to protest.

— And how? Then your colleagues announced that they did not have enough evidence. They weren't enough! Do you yourself believe in it?

“After what happened to Lucy, she was no longer a potential threat,” Annie evaded. She couldn't even move a finger.

- That's not the point.

— What is it?

- She could not be left alive. An eye for an eye.

— But the death penalty has been abolished in England.

— But he's dead, isn't he?

- Terence Payne?

Claire's eyes suddenly darkened.

Yes, he is.

Annie confirmed:

- Dead.

— Well, okay!.. So what did you want? Claire stubbed out her half-smoked cigarette in the ashtray and drank more wine. “Sorry, today was a hard day.

- And what do you work for?

“Claire is in charge of the cash register at our supermarket,” Mrs. Tos answered for her daughter. “Really, my dear?”

“Yes, Mom,” Claire confirmed, looking defiantly at Annie.

Annie didn't know how to react. You can, of course, say, grimacing: “Oh, this is interesting!” Claire had a decent job, and yet Annie felt sorry for her. According to police reports, six years ago Claire had been a smart, beautiful fifteen-year-old with a pretty good future—a high school diploma, then university, a prestigious job—but Terence and Lucy Payne thwarted those plans. And now Claire works in a supermarket, and besides, she hates her body. Annie has dealt with this before. She wouldn't be surprised to learn that the long sleeves of Claire's shirt concealed scars from self-inflicted injuries—burns and cuts. Annie wanted to ask if Claire had been treated by psychiatrists, but she stopped herself: it was none of her business. She's not a social worker, but a murder inspector.

- Did you know Lucy Payne?

- I met her here in the shops. Everyone knew that she was the teacher's wife.

— But you never talked to her?

— No. They just said hello.

— Did you know where she lived in recent years? Annie asked.

— No. The last thing I heard about her was that for health reasons, you see, she cannot stand trial! Say what you want, but you let her go unpunished.

"She's been punished enough," Annie said softly. - Until her death, she was in a hospital for people like her.

- For assassins?

- For the paralyzed.

- And there, of course, they fed her, washed her and let her watch everything she wanted on TV, you say, no?

“Yes, she was looked after, Claire,” Annie said patiently. She was unable to take care of herself. I understand your feelings...

— What are you talking about?! Are you seriously? Claire asked with a sardonic grin. She got up, took a new cigarette, lit it. “You can hardly fit into my skin. Look at me. Do you think I don't know how ugly and unattractive I am? I was treated by a psychiatrist, visited him for many years, and it helped me like a dead poultice. Even now I shudder at the thought that a man could touch me. She laughed hoarsely. - Joke! Well, what kind of man would come to mind to touch me? You see what I look like. And it's all because of Lucy and Terence Payne. She looked at Annie with burning eyes. - Nevermind! Well, go ahead.

— What are you talking about?

- Tell me I don't look too bad. Reassure me that if you wear makeup and dress properly, everything will be fine. Let's go... like Trinny and that fucked up Susannah. [TV hosts of Trinny and Susanna Undress... teach that looking stylish is not about following fashion, losing weight, or going under the plastic surgeon's knife. You just need to know how to dress to hide the flaws of the figure and show the dignity.] But who needs them!

Nobody really needs Trinny and Susanna, Annie agreed mentally, but there is no need to develop this topic now. Claire's behavior, like a wave at high tide, grew aggressive. It will not be possible to get the necessary information from her while she is in this state. How to calm her down, if Annie herself is trembling with inner unrest?

"My father didn't survive this ordeal," Claire snapped angrily, looking at her mother with disgust. He quickly escaped from the sinking ship. Yes, and Kim's parents made their legs out of here after you let Lucy Payne go. They tried unsuccessfully to sell their house for many years and eventually gave it away for next to nothing.

Mrs. Tos took out her handkerchief and wiped her eyes, but said nothing. Annie was seized by an oppressive feeling, as if all the losses, longing and sorrow that seemed to permeate the atmosphere of this house had piled on her. And suddenly she imagined how she was strangling Eric. Well, this is too much! .. It became difficult to breathe, Annie felt a stone heaviness in her chest. The room was too hot. Calm down, Annie told herself, damn it, get a grip on yourself! Otherwise, you will lose control of the situation.”

— So, you didn't know where Lucy has been in recent years? - Gathering her will into a fist, she turned with a question to Claire.

Learn more