It’s no secret that the nature of work is changing. During the past decade in Canada there has been a major shift in the way we view work and career planning. With corporate downsizing, the company man is finished; today it’s everyman and everywoman as entrepreneur. Since change naturally produces anxiety, many recent business books have been full of doom and gloom on the subject of the future of work. Happily, Barbara Moses’ recent offering, The Good News About Careers, a sequel to her highly successful Career Intelligence, is not. The book is a rational, common-sense guide, full of insights and suggestions, for employees and employers alike, mapping their strategy for the future.

Moses, whose career column runs in the Globe and Mail, is one of Canada’s leading authorities on career management. The book is not just a rehash of her newspaper columns, though, and covers such hot topics as understanding the new worker, coaching, and how to be an authentic worker and not leave your personality at the door of your workplace. Moses also warns of the dangers of the working vacation, being wired to the office, and of the necessity of becoming a career activist. Employers will be interested, too, to read about the expectations of 20-somethings and how to motivate these workers, as well as give support to all workers dealing with changing times.

The Good News About Careers is a positive examination of the future of work that will greatly aid the stressed worker and manager. Moses’ advice about changing jobs or careers when things get to be too much reminded me of David Posen’s insightful book, You Can Always Change a Losing Game. In the end, the message is that choice is always an option, and there is indeed light at the end of the tunnel.