As a huge ask a manger fan I think any other fan would love this book!

As a longtime reader of Alison Green's blog, I was excited when I saw this book was going to be published. One thing I always admire about the advice she dispenses on the Ask a Manager blog is that it is always—and I mean always—kind and gracious while being straightforward and efficient with its message. This book, a compilation of the most common issues facing employees/employers/job-seekers, is no different.

What the author, herself once working as chief of staff of an organisation, does in this book (and her blog) is arm everyone with the right language to use in the workplace, and how to gracefully and sensitively deal with even the most awkward of issues. From mundane issues like how to ask for a higher salary to bizarro situations like what to do with a coworker who insists you call her boyfriend her master, this book provides a guideline on how to manoeuvre the problem and rise above it without your reputation taking a hit.

Thie book can be a bit dry and predictable if you're a long-time reader of her blog, as I am. There is no new content in here, so a part of me found myself getting bored about halfway through it. If there was one thing I'd love to see in this book, it's more of the unique stories from the blog interspersed throughout it to keep things interesting. However, I do believe this book would make an excellent gift for fresh grads, job-seekers, people recently promoted and needing guidance on how to handle their subordinates, people who just can't figure out the right words to say when they're stuck in a problem at work—basically anyone. Give them this book, and it'll save them a ton of grief. And then tell them to check out the blog, because that's where the real treasure trove of crazy stories lies.

I first ran across the Ask a Manager blog years ago, during some dark times when I was struggling in a particularly awful workplace. Alison’s advice was calm, measured, and spot-on; her explanations helped me understand that my work environment was not normal, and most bosses didn’t behave like that, and it was well past time to find a new job. I will always be grateful for that, and for the kind community in the comments section.

Ask a Manager is essentially all of that wisdom in the blog condensed into book form, and I so very much wish I’d had a guide like this when I was first entering the workforce. It can be a bit dry in parts, and sometimes the amount of information can feel overwhelming; this is definitely not a book to plow through in one sitting. But if you dip in and out of the sections that are relevant to your own workplace issues, you’re nearly guaranteed to find some good advice that you can take away to apply, whether it’s a carefully-worded script to use or just a new way of thinking about the problem.

There are some sidebar question-and-answer “tales from the workplace” stories that are taken straight from the blog, and frankly I think it’s one of the book’s weaker parts; the advice is perfectly good on its own without the sensationalism. One of the things I’ve always admired most about Alison’s writing is that it’s very honest, but also very positive: every problem has a solution, and often it’s just a matter of communicating more clearly. Particularly as a woman in a male-dominated field, it can be difficult to be assertive without being seen as overly aggressive; her scripts and example language for certain scenarios have been very useful for me to understand how to approach problems more constructively.

I would definitely recommend this book to any new graduates, but also to anyone who’s trying to navigate a tricky work environment (or just plain wanting to become a better co-worker). There are many gimmicky advice books out there, but this is one of the better offerings.

**I received an ARC from netgalley in exchange for my honest review**

Alison Green is the expert of tricky work situations. This book is so helpful to guide you in navigating those situations, whether you are a manager or an associate. You are sure to find a situation here that relates to you and your workplace.

#AskAmanager #NetGalley

SUPER useful book on how to navigate tough or uncomfortable discussions and situations at work. While tact and diplomacy may seem like common sense, it can be hard to find the right words to convey what you want to say, and this book not only gives useful tips for specific situations but also examples.