Problem Identified: And You're Probably Not Part of the Solution by Scott Adams

Dilbert #34

by Scott Adams

Excellent Book

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

Paperback

First published July 20, 2010

About the author

Librarian 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.

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is a bit different from the other two I've read. Whereas the other two were just the daily comics from a few months in an average year, this compilation contains the handpicked best comics over about a 7 year period. "Problem Identified" is my favorite "Dilbert" comic book so far since it deals with PHB or everyone's favorite incompetent boss: Pointy-Haired Boss. Dilbert's boss is so ridiculous; between his never ending obliviousness or constant penchant for a bigger bonus, it's almost impossible to not be entertained by PHB's exploits. The biggest reason why everyone loves this character is the fact that they can see a piece of their own boss mirrored in PHB. Whether it's his bad habit of keeping stuff on his desk for 3 weeks, giving useless advice, or his blatant ignorance of tasks his employees do everyday, readers like myself can't help but see their own boss in Dilbert's office. There is some repetition here with themes like motivation or layoffs. However, most of the run-of-the-mill workplace rumors are repetitious so that is on par with reality. Also, the author keeps things fresh with a nice array of characters such as Dilbert, Wally, Alice, Asok, and Dogbert. Each of them has their shtick that they play well. Scott Adams changes the look of PHB a lot throughout the years, but his hilarious ineptitude is comedy gold forever.

[Limau Nipis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes, after reading too much of Dilbert, it has lost its charms somehow.

The jokes are still relevant, since I am STILL working in a corporate world.

[patrick diviney · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wish i could get my money back

I suppose it's my fault for buying a volume of his early work. However, I had a right to expect that the cartoons were large enough to view without a magnifying glass. Not so apparently. Never again will i buy one of these without checking out the free sample.

[SKP · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am systematically working my way through all the Dilbert collections I can find. This one had some repetition from previously read books, but not a lot. Mostly hilarious and so many that I can relate to from the years I spent in various types of offices with a variety of co-workers and less than likeable bosses.

[Jess Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s good

These are some of the older Dilbert comics, and there is some humor and in other cases there’s not. It’s good to see the comic evolved from the earlier comics. Though I have to say the portrayal of how employees are treated is very accurate.

[Cat Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always enjoy the Dilbert comics!

[Lenore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dilbert is always good for a laugh.

[Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Dilbert lots. Have seen all of Scott Adams" characters in my 26 years in the corporate world. This book is especially good at poking fun at the pointy-haired boss, the way upper management tends to lose contact with serving their customers, and the concentration on the latest management fads rather than using common sense.

P.S. I know why Dilbert's tie curls upward at the end even though Scott Adams says in one of the books that he does not know why it does!

[Duane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dilbert is the ultimate in comic strip humor and this collection is a true gem! The book focuses on the pointy haired boss and the chaos he creates and controls in Dilbert's world. Anyone who has to deal with "upper management" at their workplace will relate to this book! A great book for laugh out loud humor.

[Vinay Mehta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Dilbert..the only cartoon that stayed with me since I have read it..I can relate to it most of times (being an engineer n manager both) and this book displays the non chalant approach of managers to real problems and dilly dollying them around as long as they can..Read this at home, you will enjoy it..at office, you will love it more.

[dejah_thoris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another cute collection of Dilbert comics. I'm obviously reading too many at once as I can recognize repeats but overall a good collection. Nice also to see the progress from the earlier versions to the more modern ones.

[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

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was laughing so hard at the introduction. I also often zone out during the phone tree and have to make random guesses about which button to push.

[Chad Palumbo · Rating 3 out of 5]

good but maybe that's to much Dilbert. by the end I was just wanting it to be over.