Communication Skills (Career Skills Library)

Looks at the communication skills necessary to succeed in business, including effective writing, public speaking, and listening.

Grade 9 Up - Three updated editions of titles originally published in 1998. Designed for teens in the workplace, these books offer advice on topics both practical (public speaking) and abstract (team-building). The advice is sound and the interactive style will appeal to teens. The quizzes and questions are particularly fun, such as "If I had one week to live, I'd…." Young people will learn about their own personalities and styles and how to incorporate them successfully into the work world. Communication Skills emphasizes knowing your audience before writing or speaking. Problem-solving exercises are attached to business examples as well as life examples. The information is broken into easy-to-digest segments, including sidebars like "Rules of the Cube" for cubicle dwellers and a list of tips on remembering names (Professional Ethics). It may be a stretch for many high school students to be planning a wedding or worrying about how they can make life in a cubicle more bearable. Teens need information on writing résumés and becoming better public speakers, but most libraries already have books in those areas. While the information here is solid and engaging, these books may not be first choices for this audience. - Cass Kvenild, University of Wyoming, Laramie
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