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How to Work for an Idiot, Revised and Expanded with More Idiots, More Insanity, and More Incompetency: Survive and Thrive Without Killing Your Boss
“Anyone who has to work should read How to Work for an Idiot.” —USA Today “There is no question that How to Work for an Idiot is a subversive book. People will pick it up expecting a tasty blend of commiseration and advice. They will put it down thinking, to paraphrase the famous line from the cartoon character Pogo, ‘We have met the idiot, and he is us.’” —The New York Times Was it a typo when a CEO mandated that the organization “institutionalize incompetents”? If not, how did the company wind up institutionalizing incompetence instead? How to Work for an Idiot is still the confessions of a recovering Idiot Boss. After decades of writing and consulting, Dr. Hoover finally realized that many of the people he kept trying to energize and enlighten were, well, idiots. More importantly, he was an idiot for thinking he could change them. This edition of How to Work for an Idiot is bigger and better—and filled with even more idiots than before. The same technology that has enabled cluelessness from the corner office to go viral can help you protect yourself and keep your inner idiot in check. Yes, the book goes that deep. Not every boss is an idiot, and not every idiot is a boss. Let Dr. Hoover help you find the wisdom to know the difference.
- GenresNonfiction
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 15, 2011
112 people are currently reading
220 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 13, 2025
Book “How to Work for an Idiot: Survive and Thrive in a Job You Can't Stand” by John Hoover
"Evil isn’t the real threat to the world. Stupid is just as destructive as Evil, maybe more so, and it’s a hell of a lot more common. What we really need is a crusade against Stupid. That might actually make a difference.” -Jim Butcher's Vignette
The book discusses how to talk to and manage these boss types:
1. The God Boss
2. The Machiavellian Boss
3. The Sadistic Boss
4. The Masochistic Boss
5. The Paranoid Boss
6. The Reluctant Boss
7. The Unprepared Boss
8. The Biddy Boss
9. The Idiot Boss
10. The Good Boss
The book tells in detail how tro deal with each type of boss especially the idoit boss.
Review
This is a concise and intelligent book that outlines various personality types of bosses and provides strategies to deal with them. This information can not only be useful at work but in interpersonal relationships as well. I would give it 4 stars.
Recommendation
I highly recommend this book for working professionals in particular and everyone else in general. Go grab a copy and read it, please.
________________________________________
Selected Excerpts from How to Work for an Idiot
The Idiot Boss
“Idiot Bosses are curious in a childlike way. They are checked off as curious characters as a courtesy. In truth, their curiosity is very limited and not driven by a desire to learn, but to just be fascinated with simple things. Idiot Bosses’ curious natures can usually be thoroughly engaged by simply giving them a rubber band to play with at meetings. That can keep them occupied for hours.”
The Good Boss
“As you can imagine, Good Bosses are constantly curious about how things can be made better; in the tactical, transactional, operational moment and in the crafting of future-focused strategic plans. They study the latest research and conduct their own literature reviews to remain current and inspire new thinking. Seminars and workshops, either in the classroom or on-line, are often filled with bosses who are curious and invest time, energy, and other resources in researching how to be a better boss who builds better organizations. Check, check.”
On the Peter Principle
“Unfortunately, Idiots are only Idiots by comparison. Only non-Idiots can point out that they are, in fact, Idiots. Therefore, the people who make Idiots feel the least like Idiots are other Idiots. Guess who those Idiots choose to surround themselves with? The higher and more powerful the I-Boss, the greater his ability to pad his staff with additional Idiots. The Peter Principle is correct in that people are often promoted beyond their level of competence. What Larry Peter assumed happened next, however, is oftentimes wrong— not because Larry lacked the intelligence to call it correctly, mind you: He just passed away too soon to conduct the longitudinal research. Idiots don’t stop rising in the organization once they are promoted beyond their level [of competence].”
On Managing Idiot Bosses
“In the information age, information is like money in the bank. I-Bosses drive people crazy with third and fourth versions of meaningless plans and reports because they (the bosses) are bored and figure they should be doing something. Keeping your I-Boss informed and just a little bit flattered will keep the Idiot off your back. What’s that worth to you? Plus, giving your I-Boss a script with which to impress her own boss (I-Boss-plus-1) in the next big meeting is a good way for you to promote your agenda. Subtle but effective.”
On the Threat of Competence
“Never forget that your competence is seen as a threat to those who are less competent or who have convinced themselves that anything positive for you is negative for them. Part of what I confess in Step Five is that I don’t pay close enough attention to the threat that my competence might pose to others. It’s my job to be aware of that, nobody else’s. If I get blindsided by somebody who resents my competence, who’s the Idiot? This is hard to grasp if competence in others doesn’t threaten you. But to those who live in an inversely proportionate, mutually exclusive world, the fact that you’re breathing means you’re using their oxygen. The fact you’re not competency-phobic means your guard might not be up where it needs to be. You’re open to a backhand when you least expect it. To take the full force of a punch when you have no idea it’s coming can really knock you for a loop. Be aware that your natural desire to do things well and to contribute your unique talents and abilities to the achievement of organizational objectives is likely to leave you feeling as if you just ran head-long into the edge of an open door. To paraphrase another Chinese proverb: 'If you understand— things are the way they are. If you don’t understand— things are the way they are.' To recovering Idiots, the proverb refers to the stuff we can’t change. Why bother to lose sleep, grow gray hair, or pop your aorta over stuff you can’t change anyway?”
On a Cruel World
“I would like to believe competency in the workplace is routinely rewarded. But my experience and observations have shown otherwise. If you have been rewarded at work for your talent and competency, you’ve been blessed by enlightened leadership. Be grateful and throw your enthusiastic support behind any culture that recognizes and rewards excellence. On the other hand, there is nothing to be gained from getting frustrated and beating your head against a wall every time competency is punished. Punishment for competent behavior is not always part of a conspiracy. Sometimes bosses just don’t know any better. Competency is ignored more often than it is overtly punished. Having no competency to speak of, most Idiot Bosses can’t be expected to recognize it in their employees. At the end of the day, competency gets you nowhere with Idiot Bosses, except perhaps banished from their inner circle for making them feel uncomfortable. That’s the root of competency-based punishment or neglect— the fact that it makes certain people uncomfortable.”
"Evil isn’t the real threat to the world. Stupid is just as destructive as Evil, maybe more so, and it’s a hell of a lot more common. What we really need is a crusade against Stupid. That might actually make a difference.” -Jim Butcher's Vignette
The book discusses how to talk to and manage these boss types:
1. The God Boss
2. The Machiavellian Boss
3. The Sadistic Boss
4. The Masochistic Boss
5. The Paranoid Boss
6. The Reluctant Boss
7. The Unprepared Boss
8. The Biddy Boss
9. The Idiot Boss
10. The Good Boss
The book tells in detail how tro deal with each type of boss especially the idoit boss.
Review
This is a concise and intelligent book that outlines various personality types of bosses and provides strategies to deal with them. This information can not only be useful at work but in interpersonal relationships as well. I would give it 4 stars.
Recommendation
I highly recommend this book for working professionals in particular and everyone else in general. Go grab a copy and read it, please.
________________________________________
Selected Excerpts from How to Work for an Idiot
The Idiot Boss
“Idiot Bosses are curious in a childlike way. They are checked off as curious characters as a courtesy. In truth, their curiosity is very limited and not driven by a desire to learn, but to just be fascinated with simple things. Idiot Bosses’ curious natures can usually be thoroughly engaged by simply giving them a rubber band to play with at meetings. That can keep them occupied for hours.”
The Good Boss
“As you can imagine, Good Bosses are constantly curious about how things can be made better; in the tactical, transactional, operational moment and in the crafting of future-focused strategic plans. They study the latest research and conduct their own literature reviews to remain current and inspire new thinking. Seminars and workshops, either in the classroom or on-line, are often filled with bosses who are curious and invest time, energy, and other resources in researching how to be a better boss who builds better organizations. Check, check.”
On the Peter Principle
“Unfortunately, Idiots are only Idiots by comparison. Only non-Idiots can point out that they are, in fact, Idiots. Therefore, the people who make Idiots feel the least like Idiots are other Idiots. Guess who those Idiots choose to surround themselves with? The higher and more powerful the I-Boss, the greater his ability to pad his staff with additional Idiots. The Peter Principle is correct in that people are often promoted beyond their level of competence. What Larry Peter assumed happened next, however, is oftentimes wrong— not because Larry lacked the intelligence to call it correctly, mind you: He just passed away too soon to conduct the longitudinal research. Idiots don’t stop rising in the organization once they are promoted beyond their level [of competence].”
On Managing Idiot Bosses
“In the information age, information is like money in the bank. I-Bosses drive people crazy with third and fourth versions of meaningless plans and reports because they (the bosses) are bored and figure they should be doing something. Keeping your I-Boss informed and just a little bit flattered will keep the Idiot off your back. What’s that worth to you? Plus, giving your I-Boss a script with which to impress her own boss (I-Boss-plus-1) in the next big meeting is a good way for you to promote your agenda. Subtle but effective.”
On the Threat of Competence
“Never forget that your competence is seen as a threat to those who are less competent or who have convinced themselves that anything positive for you is negative for them. Part of what I confess in Step Five is that I don’t pay close enough attention to the threat that my competence might pose to others. It’s my job to be aware of that, nobody else’s. If I get blindsided by somebody who resents my competence, who’s the Idiot? This is hard to grasp if competence in others doesn’t threaten you. But to those who live in an inversely proportionate, mutually exclusive world, the fact that you’re breathing means you’re using their oxygen. The fact you’re not competency-phobic means your guard might not be up where it needs to be. You’re open to a backhand when you least expect it. To take the full force of a punch when you have no idea it’s coming can really knock you for a loop. Be aware that your natural desire to do things well and to contribute your unique talents and abilities to the achievement of organizational objectives is likely to leave you feeling as if you just ran head-long into the edge of an open door. To paraphrase another Chinese proverb: 'If you understand— things are the way they are. If you don’t understand— things are the way they are.' To recovering Idiots, the proverb refers to the stuff we can’t change. Why bother to lose sleep, grow gray hair, or pop your aorta over stuff you can’t change anyway?”
On a Cruel World
“I would like to believe competency in the workplace is routinely rewarded. But my experience and observations have shown otherwise. If you have been rewarded at work for your talent and competency, you’ve been blessed by enlightened leadership. Be grateful and throw your enthusiastic support behind any culture that recognizes and rewards excellence. On the other hand, there is nothing to be gained from getting frustrated and beating your head against a wall every time competency is punished. Punishment for competent behavior is not always part of a conspiracy. Sometimes bosses just don’t know any better. Competency is ignored more often than it is overtly punished. Having no competency to speak of, most Idiot Bosses can’t be expected to recognize it in their employees. At the end of the day, competency gets you nowhere with Idiot Bosses, except perhaps banished from their inner circle for making them feel uncomfortable. That’s the root of competency-based punishment or neglect— the fact that it makes certain people uncomfortable.”
September 9, 2020
Everyone needs to read this book! “How to Work for an Idiot, Survive & and Thrive Without Killing Your Boss.” Idiot Bosses (i-bosses) are everywhere. I advise everyone to read it to identify what type of an Idiot Boss they work for and I advise bosses also to read it to avoid becoming idiots!
There is the special type of bosses, those who are a mix of the Sadistic, Paranoid and Machiavellian Bossess. In addition to being naturally born idiots, I advise you to run from this type. Your life is more precious and valuable than to spend a single minute in their presence.
There is the special type of bosses, those who are a mix of the Sadistic, Paranoid and Machiavellian Bossess. In addition to being naturally born idiots, I advise you to run from this type. Your life is more precious and valuable than to spend a single minute in their presence.
March 10, 2023
This book has a horribly misleading title and a horrible writing style. The first 2 chapters are the author letting you know that he is an idiot boss and most people reading the book are also an idiot. Rather than tips on how to cope with a bad work environment, the book is full of self referential passages (about the author, the book and its previous editions, and the tours around the world he has gone as an author and corporate stooge trainer).
Read
March 13, 2021Great Title and Better Action Plans
I was amazed to discover that idiot really meant a reluctant boss plus two Machiavellian underlings who were making me miserable. The strategies Hoover gives are helpful though I wish he named the Lord instead of "Higher Power." Quite a difference in power to change my attitudes and life.
I was amazed to discover that idiot really meant a reluctant boss plus two Machiavellian underlings who were making me miserable. The strategies Hoover gives are helpful though I wish he named the Lord instead of "Higher Power." Quite a difference in power to change my attitudes and life.
December 6, 2023
I couldn’t even get past the first 50 pages. Too many words and tired analogies, too little substance. I suspect the actual points this author is trying to make could be summed up in an article, the rest is fluff to fill a book of 260 pages.
Read
August 21, 2023Read for the company book club.
December 20, 2023
Really good book! Lots of cute stories about idiot bosses and others who will mess up your workday and career.
August 17, 2018
Най-тъпата книга, която съм чела.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews