Title: Real Life: Construction Management Guide from A-Z
Author: Jamil Soucar
Publisher: Dorrance Publishing Co. Inc.
ISBN: 978-1480941397
Pages: 299
Genre: Non-fiction/Business & Money
Reviewed by: Anthony Avina

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David Allan Coe once said, “It is not the beauty of a building you should look at; it’s the construction of the foundation that will stand the test of time.” Just as the foundation is the glue that holds a building together, the manager of a construction site is the glue that holds a project together. However there are so many times where one’s textbook learnings will clash with the real world challenges and adversity a construction manager will face. That is where author Jamil Soucar and the book Real Life: Construction Management Guide from A-Z comes in.

I found it interesting when reading this book was how much everyday life gets involved in these construction projects. For example, Soucar tells the story of on-site inspectors not approving a project because their personality clashes with the subcontractor. He brings to life the details of the history of construction management, including the first reported project involving construction management being Madison Square Garden in 1963. He writes about the onsite hierarchy which occurs on projects, from the architect all the way down to the soil engineer and beyond. These are just a few of the facts that one will glean from this book.

The author does a wonderful job revealing the realities of construction management. Conveying both the technical side of the job along with personal experiences and things one would never imagine come into play in such a technical job, such as emotional and personality based conflicts effect building relationships with the team. These issues are amazingly shown throughout the text of this book. Soucar also does a great job not only of showing off the history of the profession, but of blending the technical knowledge with the on-site experience gained from the author’s own professional career in the field.

This is definitely a book for anyone who is looking to learn more about the field of construction management. Whether you are already in the field and are struggling with cementing your place on the site of the project, or are in school learning the trade and want to learn more about real world experiences that text books won’t always teach you, this book is perfect for anyone interested in this field. It perfectly blends educational techniques and history with real life experiences making this book feel personal and unique from other textbooks on the subject.

This is a must read for anyone interested in construction management. The book was written in a clear and even pace, and brought the subject down to a more relatable level for anyone just getting into the field of construction management. If you enjoy construction, want to learn how to manage projects or are just overall fascinated with the history of construction, then you will not want to miss author Jamil Soucar’s book Real Life: Construction Management Guide from A-Z.