It has often been said that those who don't understand the past are destined to repeat it. We all acknowledge that understanding history is important and that a well-written history can be both engaging and fascinating. History serves important purposes besides entertainment. It explains what happened in the past and why it happened. In addition, once we understand the historical milieu surrounding an event, we can forecast what is likely to occur in the future if we see the same pattern of events and forces coming to play in the present. Financial accounting reports serve that same purposes, they explain what happened in the past, and they can be used to forecast the future. In addition, financial accountants have the same general objectives, to write a history that is both understandable and relevant.This book provides you with the background and skills that you need as a non-financial manager so that financial statements will talk to you. You will discover that the language that financial statements speak is easy to understand and that the stories that financial statements tell are both fascinating and useful.