Book Value Gray Matters: The Workplace Survival Guide By Bob Rosner, Allan Halcrow and John Lavin John Wiley & Sons, Inc., $24.95 When it comes to business, there really is no better resource than your own gray matter—so use it wisely. At least that's what this thoroughly enjoyable workplace survival guide successfully relays. Using a unique mix of narrative, cartoons and humour to illustrate problem-solving tips for the workplace, the authors have a created a business book you'll want to read cover to cover. Right from the start, readers are introduced to the fictional Global Gadget, a mid-size manufacturing company, and the setting for the subsequent turn of events. The company is facing difficult times and due to restructuring, one of its divisions has only six months to dramatically improve its numbers or risk extinction. The protagonist Gray Blanderson, and a bevy of interesting, albeit often wacky, characters lead us through a slew of challenging situations. Fortunately, they are often able to find solutions by using their gray matter collectively. While fictional, this story is one that will resonate with most readers.Whether it's maneuvering through workplace dynamics to get things done, staying focused on your mission or implementing new ideas and building for the future, the lessons relayed in Global Gadget's fight for survival can be adapted to many other business environments. To ensure you get the point each time, the chapters are neatly summarized from the perspective of several key office characters in a section called "food for thought." There's even a glossary of key terms, questions to ask yourself and a listing of relevant books at the end of each chapter in case you want additional information and insight. This is a fun read. And you'll learn something too! Rosalind Stefanac