“People recognize Christians by their actions, their lifestyles, their choices,” writes Manning, president of One Heart Global Ministries, in his nonfiction debut. “What greater law than to love one another? What greater policy than respect for all?” At first blush, the precept of loving one another may seem like a recipe for disaster in the cutthroat business world, but Manning assures his readers that “Christians can navigate the complexities of law and policy and also be successful!” He draws on his own career as a leader at Duke Energy, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and other places and breaks down many lessons he’s learned. He effectively addresses some challenges that perennially face managers, such as how “tough” or “gentle” to be in dealings with subordinates: “Toughness can be an acquired skill for the naturally gentle, just as gentleness can be an acquired skill for the tough.” Throughout, Manning stresses the advantages that Christians can have in the business world over secular or non-Christian counterparts; for example, he maintains that Christians’ deep knowledge of Scripture allows them to draw on wisdom that secular people may lack. These sorts of assertions may be mystifying to successful, non-Christian business leaders; indeed, some of the world’s wealthiest entrepreneurs lack any religious beliefs at all. That said, over the course of this book, Manning is consistently upbeat in his assertions that compassion is not a weakness, that a moral approach to business can also be a practical one, and that contemplation and personal restraint are a plus in a world where such principles are all too rare.

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A welcoming, optimistic take on how devout Christians may thrive in the corporate world.