Starting with basic terminologies and ethical thoughts by many thinkers from India and abroad, the book discusses the basic tenets of professionals and professionalism, moral development theories and ethical theories, ethics in engineering, engineer's responsibility for safety, responsibilities and rights of individuals and professionals, many global ethical issues related to business including CSR, environment, life sciences, media, war and research. The book also discusses intellectual
property rights and ethical issues related to this as a global phenomenon, development and detailing of ethical codes from many professional areas like engineering, medicine, law along with codes of professional conduct prescribed by some corporate entities. The book has, in addition, a chapter devoted to
discussion on human values and attitudes which are basic to ethical decisions and actions. There is also a chapter on ethical audit which is a new concept in the field of business. The concluding chapter is on ethical living discussing the basic human needs based on Maslow's and ERG theories together with the philosophical background for ethical living by individuals and professionals.

The chapter end exercises push students to think out of the box and test them with a variety of problems they could face in their professional lives. A 'What Do You Think' section at the end of the chapter seeks student's opinion on a lot of current ethical issues the country is faced with. There is a also an 'Ethically Speaking' section which provides hypothetical ethical dilemmas and questions based on such situations challenging students to find an ethical answer.