Sabotage in the American Workplace

by Martin Sprouse

anecdotes of dissatifaction, mischief & revenge

Genres: Nonfiction, Labor, Humor, Politics, Sociology

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little talked about subject that goes on in every workplace every day: angry employees taking revenge on their companies. It is a shame that this revenge often involves innocent co-workers who had nothing to do with the situation. This book will be of particular interest for those who are responsible for security at their company.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book of interviews with people who sabotaged their workplaces. The editors define "sabotage" very broadly, more or less as "doing pretty much anything at work you shouldn't be doing." For example, one secretary they interviewed stole a ream of paper every month. Then there were the more extensive instances of sabotage, like climbing into the ceiling to dismantle the Muzak system (which I would probably do, frankly). My favorite has to be one where a restaurant worker tapes over selected (and unpredictable) sections of the bad music the restaurant played in the dining room, so that the restaurant has to throw away all the tapes. That guy described his boss as "Charles Nelson Reilly meets Captain Kirk" -- a description I've plagiarized many times since I've read it. A fun read.

[Kai (CuriousCompass) · Rating 5 out of 5]

CuriousCompass Reviews:

This book radicalized me.

Amazing. If you love a good scandal, this is the book for you--various employees from dozens of industries describe ways in which they screwed over their workplaces or fought back against abusive conditions. Some make good social commentary, others are just about average people messing shit up for their own kicks.

Either way it's all gloriously entertaining. And very cathartic if you've ever had a cappy job.

[HeavyReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is SO GOOD! I have read it twice and gotten a huge kick out of it both times.

It's all about how people purposely messed things up at their jobs, mostly because they had been mistreated or had seen a wrong perpetrated against a fellow worker. These clever true stories are told in first-person accounts by the people who did the deeds.

Highly recommended.

[space · Rating 3 out of 5]

This'd be better if Martin Sprouse wasn't so annoying. It only gets three stars 'cause I'm in it. :)

[Kevin Mckinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

read this pdf in a day. honestly, it's inspiring.

[Nathan "N.R." Gaddis]

Work sucks! Just have fun with it!

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Half of these jobs don't exist anymore, so I'm not sure who the joke's on, ultimately.

[Tyler K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really excellent storytelling. Dozens and dozens of people explain, in their own words, why they commit sabotage at work — from stealing pens to disconnecting patients from their life support when they’re ready to die (but the law says they can’t). Bad bosses, revenge, boredom, maintaining one’s ethics, the reasons go on and on. Work can rob people of so much, but what about when people rob back?Required reading.

[Worker-Dandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of anecdotes detailing the various small ways that American employees have gained some modicum of satisfaction by getting back at their petty-minded bosses and companies.
Very enjoyable but I would love to read a British version.

[Nick Mount · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well edited collection of short, first-person confessions to workplace sabotage organized by profession/workplace (retail, restaurant, factory, sex work etc.), strikingly illustrated (by Tracy Cox), collected in the early ‘90s, initially responses to flyers in San Francisco and then word of mouth & local ads across the country. Most are likely stories from the 1980s; most are employee theft and time theft, but there are some very good stories about various forms of workplace vandalism (I esp. like Ron, the Florida Toys R Us floor manager with a penchant for cross-dressing Ken dolls) and some genuine insight into why. Martin Sprouse is a California native active as a music journalist in the Bay Area punk scene in the 1980s; Pressure Drop was his publishing company.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun anecdotes of workers speaking out in their ways against ridiculous systems and situations of employment. Now of course we have places like Reddit to share our fun tales of workplace unhappiness and rebellion for free, but in the early 90s before the acessible internet this was a nice collection to peruse for some stress relief. Still have my copy and still pick it up for an occasional hit.

[solidad · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Don't get caught." #threewordreview

[Michael (Horror Gardener) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book for anyone who is disgruntled at work and does not want to feel alone.

I'd love to get an updated version with todays jobs covered.
how can we make that happen?

[Woodall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the content is rather dated with professions that no longer operate in the same capacity or even exist at all, (catalogers who still use a printed card catalog or the use of a videocassette dating service!) this was still a very interesting collection and rather revealing study into the American cultural psyche. I have to admit, I was rather startled at some individuals’ confessions into their sabotage activities at work. But with that said, I am also curious as to what type of confessions can be had with those businesses whose purpose it is to produce a profit? (After all, isn’t that the definition of capitalism?) Who is really screwing who? And are any of us better people in the spectrum of life? Okay, I think I’m ready to step off my soapbox for today. Thank you.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buah, chaval, qué gustito me da leer estas historias