Words You Don't Want to Hear During Your Annual Performance Review

Dilbert #22

by Scott Adams

"Confined to their cubicles in a company run by idiot bosses, Dilbert and his white-collar colleagues make the dronelike world of Kafka seem congenial."

Parasitic consultants, weaselly stockbrokers, masochistic coworkers and the ever-present, evil-plotting pointy-haired boss? Welcome to the seventh circle of hell, er, the 22nd collection of Scott Adams' stupendously popular comic strip, Dilbert!

Words You Don't Want to Hear During Your Annual Performance Review updates loyal readers on the mind-numbing careers of Dilbert, Wally, Alice, the PHB himself, and an ever-expanding cast of walk-on "guest stars." In this installment, a cash-sucking "consultick" burrows under the boss's skin, a not-so-grim reaper pops anti-depressants, and a lab accident turns Dilbert into a sheep-a transformation which goes barely noticed by his beleaguered coworkers. All the while, Adams takes his patented over-the-top but right-on-the-money jabs at the inanity of the corporate world.

Genres: Comics, Humor, Fiction, Comic Strips, Comedy, Business, Cartoon

128 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2003

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

[Eddie B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Dilbert book mocking the stupid and evil ways of the "modern" age of business. Shorter but not less ruthless.

[Miss Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Not the best but solid.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good way to end the day, or begin it!

[Sadie-Jane Huff · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's alright. Some funny bits.. but generally.. OK. . not one of the better ones. .

[Peter Barr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scott Adams usually has an uncanny knowledge of the ludicrous mechanics of offices and a sense of humor that goes on for days. However, this is not his best work. It's still pretty good.

[Daniel Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dilbert in my mind, represents all things real, and this book is no exception. Once again, the reader will find themselves and their workplaces within the cartoons. I'm certain Scott Adams has had spy cameras at every place I've ever worked because Dilbert seems to run into the exact same problems as I do. Words You Don't Want to Hear During Your Annual Review nails it, as usual, with a heavy dose of humour and sarcasm. Need a break from pandemic stress? Here is your answer.

www.daniellittle.com

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bummer, the title is the funniest part of this book. Maybe it is just too dated? (publication date 2003) Or maybe it is not funny because it seems all too real? I was hoping it would tickle my funny bone, but no.

[Jess Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sadly this is very true

I was reading this book as the company was trying to figure out what to do after it lost a lot of customers. Unfortunately I think the management of my firm was the basis of this comic book. At least I know I’m not alone.

[Ryan Barretto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun read from Scott Adams that is frighteningly close to reality.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

So accurate it made me sob with recognition.

[DOUGLAS J BERRY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strip.

Good black and white artwork. Suitable for taping to a cubicle wall. I almost got a job working in a cubicle, but God was kind, so I didn't.

[SKP · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read a number of Dilbert collections, and this is one of the few that doesn’t seem to repeat a lot from other collections. Lots of laughs the whole way through!

[Cherie Bush · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hilarious.

[Mark A.]

""

[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