Real Life Construction Management Guide From A-Z

Jamil Soucar digs into his expertise and experience as a construction manager to create Real Life Construction Management Guide from A-Z. In Soucar’s own words in the introduction chapter perfectly encapsulate the central theme of the book: “Human nature, personalities and egos are big factors in managing construction projects.” Every aspect of the job boils down to effectively communicating and building relationships with the myriad people involved in the lengthy process. The process of planning, executing, and finalizing a construction project is surprisingly lengthy. Soucar takes ample time to explain every step while focusing on the human factor throughout. Every chapter features real-world detailed examples with infographics and actual documents. These chapters make sure to draw the reader from the theoretical into the real world with deep insight and occasional humor.

Soucar’s writing style is largely informal. He adopts a friendly and non-judgmental tone akin to a professor during office hours or a dedicated boss mentoring a new employee. The informal tone keeps the material from becoming too heavy or confusing. Occasionally, the tone becomes too informal, resulting in a sloppy and unprofessional feel. As the intended use of the book is to help new and experienced construction managers perform better, this disparity is jarring. The jarring disparity is further highlighted in the apparent lack of copy-editing. Numerous spelling errors, formatting inconsistencies, and overuse of punctuation lend the story an amateur feel. Fixing these hiccups and adjusting the inconsistent informal tone would allow the professional and decently supported message to great effect.

A minor issue is the occasional reference to using other books and/or documents. Occasional chapters end with a stern message from the author to refer to such materials. However, there is no provided list of recommended books or authors, nor a means of finding that out. Obviously, experienced readers would already know, but adding it would lend the book a more professional feel.

Despite the above missteps, Soucar has admirably crafted a book that presents his thesis and supports it with fantastic depth. He lays out historical context and quite literally leads readers through everything “a to z.” The intended audience is most likely knowledgeable, but the material is written in an accessible tone that new readers will enjoy. Some of his tips and tricks could also be applicable in other careers as interacting with people is a universal aspect.

Real Life Construction Management Guide from A-Z lays everything out in an engaging read with depth, humor, and heart that any construction manager will keep on their bookshelf.