For more than 20 years, Scott Adams's Dilbert has chronicled the problem-filled work world of pointless projects, questionable employment practices, and interoffice politics that eerily resemble our own 9-to-5 cubicle existence.
In How's That Underling Thing Working Out for You?, Adams takes on the challenges of Elbonian sensitivity training, employee satisfaction surveys, confusopoly consultants, and more inside this new Dilbert book.
If you agree that every indeterminable project has to have at least one WDG (Worthless Dumb Guy), or are subjected to results-free sensitivity training, questionable employee surveys, and freelance consultants that seem to offer little more than exorbitant invoices, then chances are you find the corporate cubicle culture philosophy represented inside How's That Underling Thing Working Out for You? alive and well inside your own work environment--and that's exactly what makes Dilbert one of the most successful and popular comic strips of all time.
From Dogbert's invention of a beheading app to Dilbert's PowerPoint presentation that proves two monkeys could lead better than current management, How's That Underling Thing Working Out for You? chronicles corporate cubicle culture questionable training seminars and employee satisfaction surveys, along with made-up consultancies one Dilbert strip at a time.
Adams was born in Windham, New York in 1957 and received his Bachelor's degree in Economics from Hartwick College in 1979.
He also studied economics and management for his 1986 MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.
In recent years, Adams has been hurt with a series of debilitating health problems. Since late 2004, he has suffered from a reemergence of his focal dystonia which has affected his drawing. He can fool his brain by drawing using a graphics tablet. On December 12, 2005, Adams announced on his blog that he also suffers from spasmodic dysphonia, a condition that causes the vocal cords to behave in an abnormal manner. However, on October 24, 2006, he again blogged stating that he had recovered from this condition, although he is unsure if the recovery is permanent. He claims to have developed a method to work around the disorder and has been able to speak normally since. Also, on January 21, 2007, he posted a blog entry detailing his experiences with treatment by Dr. Morton Cooper.
Adams is also a trained hypnotist, as well as a vegetarian. (Mentioned in, "Dilbert: A Treasury of Sunday Strips 00).
I always rate Dilbert collections high, because I love how it feels like Scott Adams had some of my former workplaces bugged. Always good for a lot of hearty laughs.
This was a book full of good humor. For those who have never experienced cubicle life or an office this is a good way to learn about it along with why it needs to end.
Another delightful look into the nondescript business that is Dilbert's workplace. This one focused on office culture, a lot of cubicle puns, which is always funny. It would be hard rating any of these under 4 stars since Dilbert comics are so consistently sardonic. I can feel Alice's rage and laugh at Wally's incompetence on the same page. Dilbert is so relatable. Scott Adams rules.
More of the same can be a good thing in some instances, and it is here, as Adams continues in his usual vein. Lots of outrageous puns, great non-sequitur humour. Several laugh out loud moments. Dilbert fans should be happy.
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
Dilbert rides again! Another visit to the world of cubicles. This is office life at its most bizarre, and yet so true. Good read. This reminds me why I retired.