God's Own Office: How One Man Worked for a Global Giant from His Village in Kerala

by James Joseph

James Joseph was in his late thirties, well ensconced in his job as a director with Microsoft, when he decided to take a family vacation in Aluva, Kerala. His six-year-old daughter tasted a jackfruit from a tree in their own yard and remarked, ‘Daddy, this is so delicious. I wish I could eat the fruits from this tree every year.’

Part memoir, part how-to, this is his amazing story of starting out from the backwaters of Kerala, becoming a corporate leader in America and then finding a way to have a successful career while working out of his village in Kerala.

This book also contains tips and techniques for anyone frustrated with living in cities. How do you set up a home office? How do you integrate with the local community? Where do your kids go to school? How do you convince your company to give you this opportunity? God’s Own Office may well inspire you to transform your life.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Self Help

207 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2014

Reviews

[Padmini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring book on how to work from home in a remote village.
The language in the book is lucid and simple.
Really liked the explaining of practical situations and solutions.
The author seems to be a very dynamic person. Really like his attitude towards situations.

[Rahul Unnikrishnan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light read about James moving to kerala and working very effectively for Microsoft from his home. Simple language with lot of real life situations I could relate to being from the same place.
Makes lot of sense of to do something similar if your work doesn’t get affected and your family is cool with the shift.

[Meghna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. I m glad that I picked it up. It's a must read for people working away from their native and want to return. His language is so simple and lucid that at times I felt he was actually sitting and talking in front of me. kudos James 👍

[Rishi Prakash · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book gifted to me by my Boss so i was quite intrigued for sure! And started it as soon as i could..

A well written book in a simple language to make it work for all. The author talks about his journey from a small village in Kerala to Europe and USA where he built a credible career for himself before he decided to move back to his home state and continue to work from there for his global company none less than Microsoft. He then shares his insights on the move back to a small place – giving some very practical tips for those who may want to follow him and work from home.

I must say this book is worth putting in all libraries for sure as it covers every small thing/issue which needs to be covered before taking the big decision of moving back.

[Vishnu Prasad · Rating 5 out of 5]

i really enjoyed the book. as a IT professional working abroad and always nostalgic about my place and thinking to go back and settle in my GOD'S OWN OFFICE as soon as possible. i can easy relate me with the author. The book is interesting in the first half but it will be bit boring after he started giving instructions to manage the GOD'S OWN OFFICE if you are not a person really never dream of such things.
I really recommend this book to anyone who wish to move from a professional corporate life to freelancer mode no matter where he lives.

[Indra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pre-lockdown zone book about WFH much ahead of its time. A good refresh to the catch up on little things even after one gets used to WFH scenario. Very well comprised of scenarios within and beyond man's control and handbook on the same. Found some places contradicting in the depiction wherein the author avoids some cultural events and attends every event down the line in latter chapters of the book. Overall had a good time glancing through the backwaters amidst the birds chirping and a well balanced work-life resonance in author's point of view.

[SHUBHA · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a delightful read. In simple language, the author shares his career journey around the globe and back to his roots. One can easily relate to his experience.
Worth reading for all of us in the IT industry.

[Meghana Lakayil · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We all once in our life should move from being a big fish in a big pond to being a small fish in a small pond" to understand our roots.
Just a simple book on how we can come back to our roots and also stick to our professional job at the same time!

[Kaustubh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended book for IT professionals..
It is the story of IT professional about going back to his roots in India after sucessful career overseas.. Author guides you about how one can work from his/her home town without compromising his/her career aspirations using situations faced by him..

[Siddhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A touching true story about a man whose love for his hometown convinced him to work from home for all his life. Teething troubles aggravated his passion for a successful career at microsoft.

[Balagopal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good decent read that fits in with contemporary work life. As a working professional, it also has some subtle and not so subtle management lessons. Perfect weekend reading.

[Abin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring

[Kajal Koli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this bcoz I read someone's comment "if you are IT professional you should read it". I would say if you are someone who recently graduated and joined workforce give it a try; and read this book

[Isha Patil]

God's Own Office takes us through the rare and transcending journey of Mr. James Joseph who bags his dream job after myriad efforts, then comes back to his serene village after travelling through three continents, works from a picturesque home office and finally makes way to his own startup venture. The book takes you through do's and don'ts of a 'work from home' culture, the pros of going through the tedious process of finding 'the home and town' to give your family and yourself the experience of being connected to the outside world while staying close to your traditions and roots, and creating an amazing business opportunity out of a much loved seasonal fruit - the humble jackfruit.
Overall, great reading companion!

[Subrus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up because I started off as a remote working freelancer (for about six odd years) and then after over a decade of corporate life, transitioned to a work from home role. The writing is simple, and readers can relate to the book, the style, and in many cases (even if you aren't from his home-state) the sentiments behind his decisions. While he describes how he managed his work remotely and then transitioned to the entrepreneur that he is now, the discipline, the practices, pointers which could have been woven into the narrative would've taken the book many notches higher.

[Ashref Punnoli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book with worthy contents for a smooth sailing.

Not to be missed by an IT Professional who run around the globe and still hold the umbilical cord tight to return to the village.

The career is not that all for ones life. If you love your soil, and wants to keep connected, this book shows relentless struggle to get it done. Howtos and real life observations.

As I liked the book, was able to finish it fast.

[Abhilash RB · Rating 3 out of 5]

The catch for me to read this book was that I also belong to the same town as of author James Joseph.

This is very lite reading one. It shares many steps and constant efforts that any Professional has to keep it in mind, who wish to settle in his own village to keep the traditional values close to heart while work from there for a multinational employer simultaneously.

[Bigsna · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book title and by-line are attractive for sure, and the stages of how the author came to work from his home town in Kerala come together in a collection of 'good practices' and 'checklist guide' for anyone who might want to also 'be local but work global'.
This is relevant as an example - but overall the book was ok.

[Abhaga · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fairly quick read. What the author managed to do is definitely amazing and would require a lot of determination and discipline. However the book was not what I was expecting - especially since I had no idea about his job profile.

[Anuradha Goyal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Detailed Review here http://www.anureviews.com/gods-own-of...

[Sujith Philipose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read. Essence is "Where there is a will there is a way"

[Chitra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really could relate to this book as I am working from home for a long time now. All the mentioned in the book goes hand in hand with my current situation.

[Hari K · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a good guide for someone who works remotely or from home often. I was able to relate a lot to it .

[சுயேபெர் SuJéBṚ Joshy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those professionals who wish like work from home will get good advices here.