Casual Day Has Gone Too Far

Dilbert #9

by Scott Adams

Since it first appeared in 1989, the popularity of Dilbert has grown so quickly that it is now generating a worldwide sensation. Dilbert's world is thrown into confusion when Catbert decrees that Fridays are to be "casual days".

Genres: Humor, Comics, Fiction, Comic Strips, Graphic Novels, Cartoon, Comedy

128 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1997

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Scott Adams was a defining voice of the American white-collar experience who transitioned from a prominent cartoonist into a polarizing political commentator. After earning an MBA from UC Berkeley and spending years in management at Pacific Bell, Adams launched the comic strip Dilbert in 1989. The strip’s sharp satire of corporate bureaucracy and the "Dilbert Principle"—the idea that incompetent employees are promoted to management to minimize their damage—resonated globally, eventually appearing in 2,000 newspapers and winning the prestigious Reuben Award. Beyond the funny pages, Adams explored philosophy and persuasion in works like God's Debris and Win Bigly, the latter of which analyzed Donald Trump’s rhetorical strategies during the 2016 election. His career took a dramatic turn during the mid-2010s as he shifted focus to his daily "Real Coffee" livestream, where he combined his background in hypnosis and corporate strategy to comment on the "culture wars." This period of independent commentary culminated in 2023 when he reacted to a poll regarding racial tensions with a series of inflammatory remarks. Labeling Black Americans a "hate group" and advocating for racial segregation, Adams faced immediate and widespread repercussions; hundreds of newspapers dropped his strip, and his publisher canceled his upcoming projects. Undeterred, he moved his work to the subscription-based platform Locals, rebranding his comic as Dilbert Reborn. In his final years, he faced severe health challenges, including stage IV prostate cancer and vocal cord issues, yet he remained a prolific presence on social media. He eventually announced the end of his hand-drawn work due to focal dystonia but continued to direct the strip's vision. Adams’s legacy remains a complex study in the power of branding, the evolution of digital influence, and the volatile intersection of creative genius and political provocation in the modern era.

Reviews

[Gary Sundell · Rating 4 out of 5]

An earler collection of typically insane Dilbert strips. Both the daily and Sunday strips are in black and white.

[Lost Planet Airman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, steady doses of humor:


And a few expanding themes:
Dogbert buys his "master"'s company, then sells it to the Elbonians for a hefty profit.
Dilbert's relationship with Liz may been in danger, as her spreadsheet proves she is twenty percent too good for him...
The Etch-A-Sketch laptop...
The origin of Loud Howard.
Dogbert: Financial Advisor
The Dogbert Construction Company converts spare cubicles into prison cells
Dogbert's Talk Radio
Renowned Psychologist Dogbert...
The Accounting Department as a lAnd of demonic trolls
Tina the Brittle Tech Writer
Dogbert, Corporate Jet Pilot
Dogbert the Angel
Catbert, Evil Director of Human Resources

[Vaishali · Rating 3 out of 5]

About 8% recycling of older cartoons, but still funny :)

[John Love IV · Rating 5 out of 5]

gotta love Dilbert

[Hannah Belyea · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Pointy-Haired Boss is certain he can get his employees to improve their work habits with some shakeups in the schedule - cue the abrupt meetings, on and off casual days, and plenty of insane new products to scam customers out of money with! Adams will keep fans and newcomers chuckling with another enjoyable collection of comical work mishaps and morons. How far off the mark is too far off the mark, and can Dilbert and co. - stretch it any farther?

[Mike McVey · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite comic strips. A funny side note: in this particular book there is a 3 day run on a few procurement jokes. My boss had been in procurement before transferring to his current position. I copied the comics and he thoroughly enjoyed it and is now planning to send them to his former procurement colleagues. I love Dilbert.

[Jonathan Katz · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Dilbert book I bought. Loved it. One of my all-time favorite strips is in this one, I believe it is on Page. 101. I thought it was hysterical when I first read it.

Yes, this shows my nerdish side. Yes, I know it exists. But Dogbert is still one of my idols.

[Ari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been a fan. Adams is a genius. He has the unique ability to see a business situation and see how crazy and messed up it is. Now that I work in an office, these books have become my bible. Every word is true.

[JD · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heart Dilbert. It's been a while since I've read this, or others, but along with Get Fuzzy, Dilbert is among my favorite comic strips out there in the post-Far Side, post-Calvin and Hobbes world that we live in.

[Djll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great writing of a time and place that is already mostly gone. The artwork? Too simple, but there are lots of nice touches (such as when Dogbert is in an especially naughty mood, wagging his tiny tail).

[heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious. Adams doesn't disappoint, as usual. Good way to perk me up on a weekend night :)

* * *

Re-read in 2022. Still funny. Though if you squint just a little bit at some of the panels you'll realize it's not really a surprise that Scott Adams turned out to be a Trump fan.

[Jdetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This comic strip has certainly improved as the series progresses. New characters have been added to the cast and personalities for all of the characters seem to have solidified. I think more of the jokes are landing as well.

[Little Timmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all might have started out like Calvin with a great view of life. But after hitting the workforce we all somewhat become Dilbert. Everyone knows someone like one of the characters in the strips. Highly recommended

[Doc Opp · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I'm on a Dilbert kick - I've owned this book for about a decade now - never fails to provide a laugh if I really need one...

[for-much-deliberation ... · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just love Dilbert comics!!

[Kyrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know if anyone would have noticed me in a bathrobe or a superhero costume, but I worked at an ad agency. It's still funny.

[Paulia BSN-RN · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't laugh as much as with the other books and only a few comics dealt with the title of the book. Overall I give it a 2 star rating for 'o.k '.

[Alahu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great comic-book. very funny when Dilbert starts working on his resume because of a meeting. And the database jokes are great too.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of Adams' best collections.

[Allegra S · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love Dilbert and I was sad that I didn't enjoy this collection. It was very repetitive. There were a couple really good ones though - the journalism major one made my day!

[Stephen Hines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Adams' books should be require reading for anyone going into (or currently in) management/administration. Maybe his comic strips could save us working stiffs some insanity.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always laugh...

[Erik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Above average selection of strips - plenty of management and catbert stuff, which is my favorite. Also plenty of dogbert going around.

[Shelby Rush · Rating 4 out of 5]

My second time reading it through. If you've ever worked in the corporate world, especially in a cubicle and more especially if you have an engineering background, this'll hit home. I appreciate the wit, but I'm also partial to engineers and their way of viewing the world. My dad was one, as was my uncle, my grandfather, one of my boyfriends, and a photographer friend. A few months back, I met a retired structural engineer who's turned his talent toward rehabbing wooden dollhouses, and I think we might just strike up a friendship.

But you don't have to be an engineer or know one to appreciate Scott Adams' funnies. Good stuff here.

[Jess Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great daily read

Each day I read one strip on my way to work. At work I marvel at how accurate this comic really is to our lives. I love to see Dilbert as a Congress member! It would be even better!

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't decide whether I love or hate my job.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all Scott Adams books and have pretty much read all of them.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great one. Reading these always makes me laugh or do a Dilbert laugh, near a snort sound.

[Michael P. · Rating 1 out of 5]

The best thing about this book is the cover concept, though the drawing of that concept is terrible. The book goes downhill from there.

[Scott Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Classic, old-school Dilbert. Yet, even after 20 years, these strips still resonate in the modern business world.