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Dilbert #21
When Body Language Goes Bad: A Dilbert Book by Scott Adams
Some might think that the corporate scandals of 2002 could make it difficult to find anything funny about today's business world. But When Body Language Goes Bad proves it will take more than that to slow down the inventive wit of Scott Adams, who clearly is never at a loss for finding hysterical things to mock in corporate life.This marks the 21st collection of Adams' wildly popular comic strip, Dilbert, which is featured in more than 2,000 newspapers worldwide. This book updates loyal readers on the so-called careers of Dilbert, Alice, Wally, Asok the intern, and other regulars as they wallow through pointless projects, mismanaged company takeovers, futile team-building exercises, and other inane company initiatives like the "name the rest room" contest.In addition to the strips' familiar characters, this collection showcases Adams' masterful ability to create hilarious "guest stars." There's the network design engineer known as Psycho Hillbilly, who was going for the gentle biker look until he decided it was overdone. Then, there's M. T. Suit, who is merely an empty suit walking the office halls spewing corporatese, such as "promising to enhance core competencies by leveraging platforms." Adams says that about 80 percent of his initial ideas come from his 150 million-plus readers. Those worldwide readers are sure to celebrate the humor found in When Body Language Goes Bad, his latest satirical look at the modern workplace.
Paperback
First published March 2, 2003
11 people are currently reading
199 people want to read
About the author
Scott Adams
282 books1,262 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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).
He married Shelly Miles on July 22, 2006.
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).
He married Shelly Miles on July 22, 2006.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 6, 2016
I lost my job recently.
My boss called me to his cabin. Being head of the Technical Safety department, I was under the impression that my job was reasonably safe, recession or not. So it was a shock to me when the big guy told that I have been made redundant.
"But... but... why?" I spluttered.
"You're overhead. In the current scenario, company cannot tolerate a single superfluous penny." He said in a sad voice. "You are an old and trusted employee, and I am sorry about this."
"But how can I be overhead? I am the HOD!" I said incredulously.
"That may be true - but can you tell what project you are currently involved in?" The boss asked.
"As Head of Department, in all of them."
"But what do you do, exactly?"
"Well..." I hesitated a moment. "I mentor the guys, advise them in case of knotty problems, decide upon departmental policy, interact with important clients..."
"Ah! But how many deliverables do you produce?" The big guy asked shrewdly.
I was stumped. "Well... none. But that is not expected of a Departmental Head, is it?"
"Exactly!" The boss said. "Which shows that you are a non-producing asset." He pondered for a moment. "Come to think of it, all the Heads are..."
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I knew that Dilbert was funny, but never knew that he was so true to life.
My boss called me to his cabin. Being head of the Technical Safety department, I was under the impression that my job was reasonably safe, recession or not. So it was a shock to me when the big guy told that I have been made redundant.
"But... but... why?" I spluttered.
"You're overhead. In the current scenario, company cannot tolerate a single superfluous penny." He said in a sad voice. "You are an old and trusted employee, and I am sorry about this."
"But how can I be overhead? I am the HOD!" I said incredulously.
"That may be true - but can you tell what project you are currently involved in?" The boss asked.
"As Head of Department, in all of them."
"But what do you do, exactly?"
"Well..." I hesitated a moment. "I mentor the guys, advise them in case of knotty problems, decide upon departmental policy, interact with important clients..."
"Ah! But how many deliverables do you produce?" The big guy asked shrewdly.
I was stumped. "Well... none. But that is not expected of a Departmental Head, is it?"
"Exactly!" The boss said. "Which shows that you are a non-producing asset." He pondered for a moment. "Come to think of it, all the Heads are..."
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I knew that Dilbert was funny, but never knew that he was so true to life.
August 2, 2023
Again, Dilbert comics take me away. My husband can’t read these, however. He works in the engineering world and says they’re too real to be funny for him.
May 23, 2018
A fun read. A collection of many classic comic strip from Dilbert series. There are random short strips. If you like subtle satire and very short illustrations, its a good read. I was able to connect to almost everything as the characters are representations of real life people from your work life.
September 5, 2018
3.5 stars
I noticed it reuses a lot of the strips from other collections, but as amusing as ever.
I noticed it reuses a lot of the strips from other collections, but as amusing as ever.
February 12, 2021
Another classic addition to the Dilbert family! I have loved Dilbert for a long time and this book does in no way take that feeling away.
March 20, 2021
Another fun read of the ridiculousness of corporate world through the eyes of Dilbert and friends.
November 30, 2022
Fortunately, a funny collection. Unfortunately, a little too true to life, at least in my experience. I maintain that Scott Adams has bugged every office I’ve ever worked in during my lifetime…
February 8, 2023
I can appreciate the humor now that I’m retired.
Read
December 17, 2024""
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2012
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1805031...
As per usual, variations between the surreal, the banal and the bleakly plausible from the world of work. I particularly liked the one about two guys emailing each other, each demanding that the other call him back, when they are actually in adjacent cubicles.
As per usual, variations between the surreal, the banal and the bleakly plausible from the world of work. I particularly liked the one about two guys emailing each other, each demanding that the other call him back, when they are actually in adjacent cubicles.
January 23, 2016
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
December 13, 2008
Another great book in the series that Scott Adams has created to let people who dwell in the daily routine of managment induced chaos understand their lives. A funny read.
August 24, 2009
Dilbert
July 21, 2019
Been a while since I read Dilbert... Hit and miss as always. Not enough Evil Cat for my liking.
July 26, 2015
Fun as usual...
February 13, 2021
Ca. læsedato.
April 7, 2017
Several years ago, someone left the entire run of Dilbert books at my house.
I put them in the bathroom. I've been slowly working through them. I think I'm beginning to understand what working in an office environment might be like; my bathroom approximates a cubicle, and these idiotic cartoons approximate the inane banter one might engage in with coworkers whom one actually detested.
I put them in the bathroom. I've been slowly working through them. I think I'm beginning to understand what working in an office environment might be like; my bathroom approximates a cubicle, and these idiotic cartoons approximate the inane banter one might engage in with coworkers whom one actually detested.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews