How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

The path that got me to this review is interesting, I was looking for the blu-ray of Office Space, a great movie. To me there is no doubt that Shepard Mead's book keeps rolling through movies like Office Space, and cartoons like Dilbert. Shepard mead did it first, and it is timeless, regardless of the ways work has changed since he wrote it. I grew up with my dad's copy of the book (he actually did work on a desk in rows in the 1950's). Later I "rediscovered" the book in a modern printing, but found I missed the original illustrations, and so found a copy of the original hardbound. The book is very funny, and cuts so close to the truth that to this day, I don't dare bring it into work. After 30+ years in the office world, I would say that the book still is 90% true of the office environment today.

I ordered this book on a whim, after having heard some selections from the 1961 original cast recording. I had seen the movie version, and enjoyed it thoroughly. The book is well written, and funny. It is worth reading just for the historical perspective it brings to dealing with the business community. But, this is one of those times when I thought that I was better off watching the DVD, because there just isn't that much substance to the book. The book was written for a different time, but I think the original movie version better makes the transition to the present day.

Highly pertinent business satire! As good as the NY musical - perhaps better!