Stevenson, who has been a consultant, private sector manager, entrepreneur, and advisor to senior public sector managers in the UK, draws on his personal experiences and about 60 interviews with public sector managers and politicians mostly from the UK (and Mayor Michael Bloomberg) to provide a practical guide for public sector managers. He outlines the characteristics that make public sector management challenging, then addresses managing accountability, target setting, politicians, people, risk and innovation, and decision making, exploring why each area is different in the public sector and advice on how to approach it. He also examines what the private sector can learn from the public sector and the status and significance of public sector managers and how to attract and retain them. Annotation ©2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)