Managers and would-be managers need more than a passing knowledge of finance. It affects every aspect of their work, yet many are ignorant about vast tracts of financial territory. The result is a dilemma: to admit ignorance and risk opprobium, or to feign understanding and risk exposure? On the horns of dilemma sits the Perplexed Executive, too honest to lie, but too smart to tell the truth. Here is a route out of perplexity which aims to make the executive feel comfortable with the major financial concepts. Witty, entertaining and imaginative, it deals with balance sheets, profit and loss accounts, capital investment, ratio analysis and inflation and enables the executive to meet the accountant face to face, without losing face.