In a world in which production of manufactured goods and of services tends to exceed demand in most markets, it is increasingly the case that it is the quality of the human resources – people, in fact – which makes the difference between successful business organizations and failure. Managers of all sorts will want to help their employees to develop themselves as much as possible so as to improve their chances of success and of course their own job security. Further, managers, as well as employees, will increasingly realise that in a world with reduced workplace security, the future will demand moving from position to position and location to location. This has always been more true of the USA than of most parts of Europe, for example, where the dominant labour market paradigm has been to keep hold of employees and to train them and help them while in-post. In America, meanwhile, the onus has always been on the individual to ensure personal development and to find new opportunities personally. This is perhaps why the self-help media industry is so very important in that country. This book, Making It Count, will be of value to readers who want to understand in more detail why communication and interaction skills are so important in business and how to improve those skills.

Author Bryan Hurlbut frames this book, which contains a series of useful and valuable lessons, within an overtly Christian approach that some readers will find a little over-powering. There may be nothing intrinsically wrong with having strong religious views from a societal perspective because a society consisting of large numbers of believers tends to be comparatively stable and happy, despite the many unhelpful views likely to be fostered thereby. From a personal perspective, it makes the book les valuable as a teaching tool as I live in a non-Christian society and the many references to Christianity are likely to be exclusive rather than inclusive. This is a pity because there is a need for books of this sort – comparatively short at 150 pages, written fairly informally and drawing upon local or domestic issues – in helping students connect theoretical or conceptual perspectives with the kinds of mundane events with which they may be confronted.

Hurlbut provides useful lessons in areas such as leaving a company, handling difficult news, being professional at work, maintaining personal reputation and integrity and making the most of a mentor relationship. Following these lessons, which have been drawn from twenty years of experience and reflection on life in the professional world, would be likely to help the reader become a more effective and satisfied employee and one more able and willing to maximise career and life success through moving on to new fields when required.