Making Sense Of Business | Book Review

by Charlie Lindlar

Business consultant and enterprise lecturer at Central St Martins (CSM) and Chelsea, Alison Branagan specialises in the creative industry and her latest book, Making Sense Of Business, seeks to be a “no-nonsense guide” for current, prospective entrepreneurs – including a number of students looking to set up their own businesses or going freelance.

Fortunately, the book is separated into clear and specific sections, making it easy to navigate and pick up and read from any point.

It isn’t a slog requiring the reader to sustain belief that at some point its lessons will become relevant, because you know what you should be aiming to get from each chapter from the start.

Unfortunately though, Branagan will have to fight against the natural tendency in readers to dismiss it as just another jargon-riddled book of graphs and ‘strategies’ to increase all sorts of businesstype qualities.

While it isn’t necessarily immersive, it is informative and well-presented.

Each chapter has its own excellently-drawn diagrams summarising the content, and these aid you in understanding the dense text – it is business, after all. It’s an interesting book that provides worthwhile information and opinions.

If you want to read this book, it’s because you want to better your understanding of business.

Of course, if that doesn’t interest you then it is unlikely that the book will either.

For what it is, a business-oriented book for the more creative types who enjoy eye-catching diagrams and an informal, well-written and accessible read, then it makes sense to give it a try.

Making Sense of Business - Alison Branagan, Kogan Page, £12.99