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Anecdotes of a White Collared Slave

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Soul-Sucking colleagues, cocky bosses, weird company polices, and quirky work ethics - this story has it all A journey of every white-collared employee who could never go beyond - "chal startup kholte hai" - that will leave you in splits. Warning: Not for bosses with big egos and low sense of humor.

144 pages, Paperback

Published September 21, 2019

24 people want to read

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Aashish Gupta

17 books28 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
Profile Image for Drficticity.
154 reviews6 followers
October 27, 2019
Anecdotes of a white-collared slave

Authors - Aashish Gupta
Pages - 143
Genre - Fiction
Publisher - Vishwakarma Publishers

Blurb:
Soul-Sucking colleagues, cocky bosses, weird company polices, and quirky work ethics – this story has it all A journey of every white-collared employee who could never go beyond – “chal startup kholte hai” – that will leave you in splits. Warning: Not for bosses with big egos and low sense of humor.

My views -
I have not worked in corporate world but I have worked, and therefore I could relate to the overall feel of this book,The cover has a line

" He is you,you are him"

and that's true and relatable to a wide section of young professionals

In whichever sector you work, even if it was your dream job while you were studying, once you get in, you realise that it's all not easy and wonderful as it used to look from the other side.

Remember how parents said "there are no free lunches in this world". You realise this once you start earning your own money.

And like many of us, the working class, the characters here in this book also compromise alot of things for their job, most importantly there mental peace.

The writing style is very good, the whole use of satire definitely brings up a subject like this in a more entertaining way but it could use some more finishing. The characters were also believable, the kinds you see around your own office, the author choose a good representation there like Atmaramani has my sympathy ,he kind of represented the misfits in the professional world and definitely the world is not kind to those who don't fit in.

Overall it's a good satirical read
Profile Image for Aakanksha Mishra.
235 reviews65 followers
December 19, 2019
This book talks about corporate life and the problems associated with it. This book contains the author's life experiences and frustrations. It is a non - fiction book hence was a good experience for me as I mostly read fiction novels. The language used in the book is quite simple which makes it an easy read but it is also harsh. The author has explained in detail the working of the corporate sector, the hardships, how people are treated harshly as if they are machines and not humans.
It was a new experience for me to learn about a different world but the demerit was that I was not able to relate to it as I am not from that world. The book has humor which will make you laugh but you won't be able to connect if you are not from the corporate world. This book is perfect for those working in the corporate sector.
I liked the cover. it is very intriguing and perfect for this kind of book. The narration was good. Though I expected more from this book as I've read the author's previous works, it was not up to my expectations. Looking forward to reading more books by the author.
90 reviews1 follower
November 20, 2019
Anecdotes of a White-Collared Slave follows the life of Aashish Gupta (the author), who works as a back-end researcher at a KPO firm. He provides us with first-hand accounts of activities that happen in his workplace that is both amusing and upsetting at the same time.
The author uses satire to bring to light everyday experiences, and the issues that exist in corporate offices operating in India. He captures all those absurdities of office life and delivers it in a casual and witty manner. Few characters (weird interviewers, inept bosses, detestable co-workers) and circumstances might seem highly dramatic and exaggerated, but sadly it’s all too true and many may even find them relatable. It’s amazing that a book which deals with the humdrum lives of working individuals can be this entertaining.
The entire purpose of this book is to criticize and to convey the message that corporate culture might be turning its workers into droids; reading about the monotony of their jobs and the pressure they face on a day-to-day basis gives a dispiriting feeling, and one can’t help but sympathize with them. A character called Atmaramani particularly stood out for me; you see the impact the job has on him and how the amoral nature of the work environment gets to people after a point.
The book lacks a plot as the author mainly tells anecdotes about his job, but you can’t hold that against him- the book is literally called “Anecdotes of a White-Collared Slave”. I believe this wasn’t written just to condemn corporate companies but also to make people understand how it really functions, in hope of bringing about a change.
It’s a short read (just about 150 pages) that explains the lives of corporate employees in a nutshell. If you’re interested in knowing what’s going on in those firms or how similar they are to your workplace, you’ll have to give this book a try.
Profile Image for Gunjan | Bookworm Reads.
136 reviews36 followers
November 19, 2019
The Anecdotes of a White Collared Slave by Aashish Gupta takes us on a journey into the corporate world with egoistic bosses, not so helpful colleagues, an unhealthy work environment and whatnot.

We all know that corporate 9 to 6 jobs are not actually 9 to 6 jobs. The company makes use of every single breath out of their employees but since any job is always better than unemployment, we all end up in this vicious cycle of work where we can't find time for family and friends and even for ourselves for that matter. It all becomes about completing the deadlines, the lectures from superior and maybe a little time off on weekends.

This book gives us an insight into this world where Aashish himself was bullied and thrashed when he was new and had no one by his side and then he witnesses the same happening to his new colleague Atmaramani.

Some of his anecdotes were shocking to me because they felt a little extreme but then you can never know. Reading so many incidents in this book, I had to believe that this company was a shitty one and I know for a fact that not all companies are like that. I mean bullying, insulting your colleagues, not giving a day off even if someone dies is just too much.

There is one thing I would like to point out. I saw words like depression, OCD and anxiety disorder all in the first few pages like a pinch of salt. Now I am not implying that I don't believe if someone had anxiety order or not because I don't know that but I strongly believe if you introduce mental illness then do justice to its representation. They are not words to be used in normal conversations when we are stressed or sad and then forget about it altogether.

Overall, it was a fun read with the author's sarcastic and quick comparison of any situation with something totally unrelated. But only if the story had followed a proper storyline, it would have been great.
Profile Image for Maria.
178 reviews14 followers
November 22, 2019
Aashish Gupta is stuck in a soul sucking job. After his start up failed and being unemployed for months he finally gets a job which has nothing remotely associated to his degree. But having the assurance of receiving a paycheck at the end of month is enough to get into this hell hole. What happens in this hell and will Aashish be able to survive or he will also become like one of the machines in this company?

Review-
The book is not what I expected it to be. From the blurb I thought it will be a fun take on corporate life. But it is just not funny. The analogies are very interesting but they didn’t evoke any kind of humour according to me.

The characters are very real as they are from your daily life. Cocky bosses who won’t leave any opportunity to demean or insult you, jealous colleagues who will try to take you down in any way possible and one human in the midst of this corporate jungle.

I am really shocked after knowing that this book is a non- fiction. I pray no one gets to work at such depressing workplace ever in their life. I feel I was lucky that being in the corporate field I never faced such highly stressful situations.

The narration of the book is quite dull. The only source of happiness in the book was Aatmaramani’s character. It was unpredictable, funny and very touching.

It even mentions anxiety and depression but I feel these are very sensitive topics and though I could see some symptoms or incidents related to the topic but it didn’t do justice to the overall sensitive phenomenon.
Profile Image for Roshni Bhattacharya.
91 reviews10 followers
November 10, 2019

If you have ever been through this site called Quora, you probably must have felt that slight tinge of jealousy when you read of people working in the corporates, living their lives, riding the sweetest rides and flying to the best of places around the world. A life envied by all yet is unaware of how it’s probably just a tiny part of their lives and how a gigantic monster of hardships and struggles to stay hidden from plain sight. It is modern-day slavery and Aashish did his best in telling his (somewhat sad) experience in a humorous way. I found myself giggling in most inappropriate areas and was left with confused feelings.

The book has lots of tiny anecdotes, all lined up and with a mind-blowing ending (the court-martial one). The language was extremely relatable and by that I mean, I could literally feel the frustration veiled behind that thin layer of humor.
What made me pick this book up was the neck-tie-noose on the cover and it perfectly sums up the life as a white-collared slave. It’s a vicious cycle you are stuck in. You have to tighten the noose yourself every single day or you might get fined for not doing it.

Aashish wrung the essence out of his experiences at a KPO onto this book to caution any naive graduates out there who are aiming to join such organizations for the brand and the bucks. They make us do the kind of work which the Americans might find beneath themselves and this is the harsh reality of today’s world. He also pointed out how they lure people with fancy titles and misleading designations while all they do is copy and paste the entire time.

The rose-tinted glasses with which management graduates step into the real world are shattered the moment they step onto the floors where they are going to slav away for the better part of the day. Ashish introduces us to all sorts of characters that one might come across in their offices with such vivid portrayal, I couldn’t help but appreciate because I tend to mix characters up a lot! some of the chapters ends on a cliffhanger giving very daily-soapy vibes but he smartly stitched them all together without letting you forget where you were left hanging.

Extremely impressed and cautious, I enjoyed the book thoroughly, laughing and crying and experiencing everything in between.

Atmaramani has all my heart.
Profile Image for Deotima Sarkar.
848 reviews25 followers
December 5, 2019
Book Review
Anecdotes of a white collared slave by Aashish Gupta published by @vishwakarmapublications01

This is a non fiction book fictionised true to its titles via anecdotes from a corporate professional. The author himself narrates experiences starting from unemployment to employment and the quirks of the same process. Once employed how that cheque at the end of the month makes you oblivious to the very unbearable work conditions you are put into. Hardly anyone makes personal relationships due to the come and go speed of the people. The same of which applied to Taimur and then the arrival of Ritesh!
Atmaramani is meted out a similar fate as that of Aashish himself, a fate which is indeed very sad and pitiful! Such experiences at a KPO leading up to even a court martial provides serious but wry insight into this world. The subtle humour adds to the flavor of the book!
The milieu of characters, the mix of emotions, the goods, the bad make this short book a very indepth book for professionals. However not quite related to this world, I could not identify much with it except maybe the time pressure and stress and the cash inflow outflow.

I recommend this book to hardcore corporate people, and believe they will find life revealing similarities in this!
Profile Image for Simrin.
198 reviews7 followers
November 10, 2019
Book Review : Anecdotes of a White - collared Slave " He is You, You are him"
Author : Ashish Gupta @authoraashish
Publisher : vishwakarmapublications
Pages : 143
Version : paperback
Price : 195
Rating : 4/5
Cover : 5/5
About the book
The book is a based on a pure fiction story of a corporate person. The book is hilarious and it is lived by the author.. and in future we will see many people going through the same condition and situations as this book has described the true reality of the corporate life.
I liked the way the author dedicated this book to his little girl Tashi and all the people who could not go beyond ' chal apna start up kholte hai' it seems the book is written by a person for the people and readers at large who might be going through same problems so bring some happiness and Spread some Love and positivity her is my review about this book which I truly liked the way the it was
Firstly, India is the land where thousands of people are not able to achieve success or what they have planned yet.. so this book comprises of 20 chapters which will not leave you alone it will go it with the flow.
Comming to the story I truly felt that author has taken efforts and pains to bring some new side to the story which is not a common one. Yet most of the topic I felt was taken from common examples but yet it was a success as maximum people Would be able to relate the ideology behind the story.
The first chapter " A White Collared Consultant and Failed Entrepreneur" started from Delhi. There were alot of emotions which was there in this book when i read about how the difficult times in each one's life. The true struggle and then the pressure to fulfill the targets.
I would not disclose the plot of the story but if you are someone who is looking to get some deeper insights about corporate Life with some happiness and success in the end do read!! Lots of love from simrin ❤️❤️ For detailed review do read my blog ❤️
For @simrinkapoor95 for more book reviews

##booksofinstagram ##corpsebride ##corporateevents ##simrinkapoor95 ##happydays ##humor ##elementoflife ##truelove ##commonlife ##growth ##success ##fall ##failure
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Prarinthepustakaaley.
281 reviews6 followers
December 12, 2019
I have honestly been so scared of a corporate job. Whenever somebody asked me what I wanted to do, I remember my answer being “Anything but a corporate job”. This book definitely delivered all of my worst nightmares in a comical package. It was shocking how the author got all the problems and difficulties on point. Even though the author approached the story with humour and sarcasm, he was successful in scaring me. The author has done a great job in painting a true picture of the corporate world. The writing style is simple and funny. The whole feel of the book is morose but hilarious. The cover is absolutely amazing and appropriate. The protagonist had my sympathy because I get it when you are trying so hard to fit into a new space although while adjusting to your new space. One thing I really liked was that the author talks about daily mundane things and how a corporate life affects them. This is a good book. Recommended.
Profile Image for Rossy Dourado.
55 reviews7 followers
December 2, 2019
This Book picks up from a young interviewee who is Newbie to the Business world, he seeks jobs and is finally In A KPO (Read it and Find out what that means😉) and Is equally as the rest of his team once hired

This book is a description of his weird, tedious, and Cumbersome work-life. Like his interviewers, colleagues, his job environment and his own experience, the atrocity of the Situation, equipment and a deep dive into a 9-5 job. The Mental Exhaustions, Pressurised Energy and How All the aspect of A Financial firm can under go are well Describes by the author.

The Language is Simple, easy to understand.
I felt the book to Be A Little vacillating.
It's a Short read and Overall a neat work with a Tinge of humor.
Profile Image for Mugdha Mahajan.
774 reviews79 followers
December 23, 2019
The story revolves around the corporate sector and how one survives to fit in the big corporates and firm, losing their self esteem and self respect in order to not lose their jobs.The book is about a normal guy who worked in the corporate sector. He was very exhausted and frustrated from his job. The hectic schedule, erratic working hours, soul suckling colleagues, work dissatisfaction, etc. leaves no time of enjoyment for the protagonist. He mainly talks about how the employees are treated by their bosses which is quite opposite of what they are told during the interview. The author also shares some of his best and worst experiences.The story is a light read with humour element. The narration is slow which makes it a bit boring. The characters are beautifully developed. The language is easy and understandable. Overall it is a good read for those who are working in the corporate sector.
Profile Image for Murtaza Kuwarawala.
274 reviews4 followers
November 7, 2019
Title : Anecdotes of a White-Collared Slave

Author : Aashish Gupta

Genre : Humor

From past few years, we have seen a high growth of Indian authors exploring various themes while presenting their books. From stories based in college to stories that talks about start-ups, the recent trend have caught up to them all. So, my expectation with this novel was quite different since this had been my first novel based on corporate life and here is my take on it.

Anecdotes of a white - collared slave is a story written from the perspective of the author Ashish himself who has joined the corporate life after a brief stint as a failed entrepreneur. He talks about the different kinds of species (personalities) during his tenure at the company and how they apparently made his life miserable until the tables turned and he was made to supervise a new employee.



Since I had been a part of a corporate life myself, there are many incidents within the book that I can actually relate to. The book is written keeping in mind a good amount of humour quotient within the story and that takes the book forward across chapters. Though, the book did piqued my interest pretty well within the first half, the second half was quite monotonous and it started to drag which made an endeavor for me to finish the book.

Would I recommend this book? To be honest, I'm actually in two minds here on how to recommend this book to someone. Though the humor quotient with the book is spot on and does bring a smile on one's face and the language is pretty simple to progress, the second half which turned out to be a drag kept pulling me down. Pick it up if you are looking for a light read to pass your day.

My Ratings - 🌟🌟🌟 (3 out 5 stars)

Book in Few Words - A Promising first half which pulls the book down during the second half
106 reviews11 followers
December 20, 2021
Being able to do a job and being independent is something, that I think most people want to do because it gives us freedom to do things we want and with that comes the independence of not asking for anyone's permission to do anything so we all seek for it. But does it really come with freedom or just more responsibilities?

This book is just about that, about an employee in corporate world who takes us on the journey of his world. His world was hectic, with imperious boss, colleagues who are not so nice. Reading this book was really enjoyable and it was funny! Writing style was simple and easy but sometimes it felt boring, and as I'm someone who still haven't done a day of job late alone in a corporate world I couldn't relate to anything that was happening, it was just my imagination... That things like this happens at work but I'm sure not everyone's work place is like this. All in all this was one time enjoyable read, people from corporate world will relate to this!
Profile Image for Aishwarya Rathor.
273 reviews29 followers
October 27, 2019
I am never been a part of the corporate world and I don't intend to ever. This book was a perfect experience of the corporate world, the satire, the sarcasm portrayed is enjoyable.

The book focuses on the employees who work endless hours and frustrated with the monotonous schedule. Their job description is perfect for an outsider but the ones working there politely disagree.
The narration is hilarious, properly dramatised and influence by some personal experiences of the employees, perhaps the author.
I appreciate the author for his honesty and sharing his own good, bad and worst experiences. The characters revolving around the protagonist are as good as the protagonist.
Overall, a funny,witty and short good book. Should be read by everyone in an outside the corporate glamour.
Profile Image for Mehaque Khanum.
165 reviews34 followers
November 29, 2019
This book is based on the corporate sector of our country. The main character is shown to be frustated and agitated working in this sector which is shown to us in a very satire and dry humour theme story.

I liked this book, it was not heavy and twisted in any kind but was a fun and light hearted read with appropriate humour at times. Before I read this book, I was reading a very dark and emotional story, so this book gave me a breathe of peace whime reading it.

I would recommend this book for a very happy read.
Profile Image for Rohit Sharma.
313 reviews44 followers
December 29, 2019
I love those Authors whose books have a connect with me in real life and it makes it even more special when one of them hits a hat-trick of sorts. Like here in the case of "Anecdotes of a White Collared Slave" is Aashish's super hat-trick of books for me which worked like a charm, just like his first two books did. And this book is almost one of those very few books that I have read twice now :) first time I read it when it was being written by him and he was kind enough to share with me a chapter or two at a time and I had to eagerly wait for him to finish another chapter to satiate my hunger for his crackling characters and real life like story, I will totally not believe even if he swears that this isn't a real life story :). And I am going to blackmail him (if possible) to read his next book ONLY if he lets me meet with the lead character of this novel in real life as and when he can or else I am definitely not reading his next book for sure :). Also, going by the title this is indeed a book cut out of my own White Collared Slavery days which are not coming to an end anyways. It took me back in time to my very first job which was a great learning experience as far as office politics, power, rivalry and management lessons are concerned. On top of that I finished this one in flat one day :) as this whole week we worked from home, all thanks to working in a an American Firm, this as well as next week is a little too easy on us lesser mortals for this is Holiday season :). What better way to spend time reading a book in office hours, pretending to work miles away from office politics but about what happens in all our offices day in day out, especially if you work in a cut through IT, KPO or a BPO Unit in today's time.

Aashish Gupta's biographical book is full of some amazing characters that we all come across in our daily lives which can be divided in three groups. First one are those who come and go to office to just pass some time, chit chat a little, flirt a little more, look good and worry not about what goes around in the company. Second types are those who work a lot like slaves, hardly get recognized, are never his or her boss's pet yet organizations need them big time, they get bulled all the time yet when they ask for appraisals, their manager's throw a number in front of them which makes them puke. And the Third types are those smart workers, who do not work their arses off but are a charming personality who could never go wrong and they carry the entire project on their own two shoulders, and they do delivery everything on time exactly as expected and climb the success / corporate ladder in very fast & furious mode yet they do not stick to one company for a very longer duration. All these three characters as carved out by the Author were my favorite but the second one (Atmaramani) was the best man as per me, that character and that name, I am going to take to my grave with me, Unforgettable, hilarious as well as heart touching, he is THE MAN of the book. The book is a roller coaster ride from the word go, starting from the interview of a prospective employee to his coming on board and seeing that the promises made by the company on interview and offer are ful-filled in a most hilarious way is precisely how it happens in real life with all of us and how we take it with a pinch of salt is what this book is all about. The story even covers the benefits provided by companies to make their jobs look more lucrative, one of the most hilarious episode was on the Cab service that company offers to its employees. It actually make me laugh out loud like crazy (totally PG Wodehouse way).

I loved it so much that I wish I could gift a copy of this book to all my colleagues, counterparts and friends who work in similar atmosphere all across the globe. And I will make sure that my close buddies are surely going to read this one to find some of their own colleagues in the book or who knows, we too might as well are one of the characters from the book. if you have read this, do let me know how you liked it and if you haven't read it yet and are on the lookout for a book to have a good laugh, life experience and a terrific message in the end, do give this book a try, it will not fail you for sure.

A word of advice to Author (If at all this passes through his eyes). Dude, fire your editors please (at the earliest), I really wonder why this book was only 144 pages, even if this was 300+ pages like the way it was while you were writing it, I would have asked for more. I am sure you have cut this short some 100 odd pages or more, trust me when I say this, the longer the better as your characters were really amazing, I would have loved them even more with more detailing.
Profile Image for Anuradha Gupta.
164 reviews8 followers
June 2, 2020
When I was working in a "Lala" company in Gurgaon, I was not myself. I was an exhausted machine that came home at the end of the day and laid down on the bed only to wake and rush the next morning to swipe in that card on time. Anecdotes of a White Collared Slave by Aashish Gupta is the story of exactly that person, that person who is working in a corporate, and who is you or me.

The story follows the narrator as he embarks on his journey into the corporate world after a failed attempt at startup. Having joined a KPO with bright eyes, he soon starts seeing the reality when the layers unfold, both of the workings and the people there. From a condescending mentor who has already resigned to a harrowing team lead who would sit on his head for the minutest of mistakes and make him feel unfit for the overly robotic job he was already doing. Then there was the all-knowing colleague, who could be as ruthless as The Hulk and as gentle as Captain America, but whichever persona he donned, he was the one to help. Then there is the other senior manager who had his eyes on everyone’s plates. People came and went in his team. What began as a 5-member team, soon was left reeling under pressure with only 3 of them left. While the first half was about the narrator’s attempts to keep his boat afloat, or at least keep hanging to its sides because anything was better than unemployment for a young man who had spent his parents’ hard-earned money on fancy degrees, the second focused on the new entrant in his team, Atmaramani. A quirky person with a frail physique, he immediately became the butt of jokes and intense torture by his superiors. As much as the narrator was relieved of having the eyes of him, he did feel sad for the poor guy. Of all the characters that the narrator encountered in his office, this one was special for several reasons. He got to mentor Atmaramani. And Atmaramani, in turn, teaches our narrator a lesson of a lifetime.

What began as a sarcastically humorous biography, soon took a seamless turn towards satire. Not a what-can-we-do-but-laugh satire but an open-your-hearts-and-be-empathetic kind of satire. I wouldn’t call this book a masterpiece, but it did hit the right notes. The language is easy with undertones of sarcasm in all the humor. Peeling off the layers of the corporate world survival package, the author takes us on a roller coaster of emotions. You will be laughing at the antics of the characters one moment and in the other, you will be hating them, and again in the next moment, you will be wondering if they are doing what they are doing because they are that person or because they have been made to be that person. The characters are aplenty, and so are their quirks. It is a good chance to come across such diversity in one book. It’s funny and frustrating at the same time. Some of them may hit closer to home than we think, do we know someone like this person, or the bigger question, are we that person? Atmaramani has all my sympathies, but his stint was short considering he is the main lead and not the narrator. This put me off, such a character and so less space. It's a pity. In fact, most characters were given limited space, no wonder one could manage only this much for a 144-page book. I would have liked to read more on each character, know a little more about their stories and future. The only thing that really pissed me off was the overuse of technical jargon and abbreviations. You can’t expect the reader to know about each and every kind of words that this particular corporation uses and it does get irritating when one doesn't get the reference. I had to pause and re-read for better understanding, and frankly, after a point, I just skipped those areas and focussed ahead. If you think you are reading a story, then you are wrong. There is nothing like good winning over evil or happily ever after here. The book doesn't move to culminate in something, it is a journey towards a greater lesson, the lesson of survival. And most of us can relate to it in some way or the other.
204 reviews8 followers
February 15, 2022
Warning : Not for Bosses with big egos and low sense of humour.

'Anecdotes of a White Collared Slave' is unique & different read from usual book we pick up.
Anecdotes refers to a short amusing/interesting story about a real incident or person.
Thus the title is apt to the storyline with suitable cover that holds a glimse of humour look.

This book is such a refreshing read.
Since I have a similar experience and have already been through the phase, I could connect with most of the storyline even though some situations were slightly different in my anecdotes but the feelings and thought process was same.
As the Author begins narrating, one could notice a curve on our lips and in my case, since the beginning the book took me back to years where I was standing with a faith & admiration in corporate jobs.

The fourth chapter - Zombie Land, was the first chapter where I laughed loud and I could literally give a face to each chapter as the Author gave the vivid description.
Reading this book feels like watching a comedy movie with realistic approach.
The readers who can understand the vibe of the Author would enjoy this book to extreme extent.
Infact I would be happy whenever there was a mention of new character as I was sure I was going to laugh out loud.

According to me, this was a honest approach towards the humour side that's hidden in Companies that most of the people fail to notice.
This is a must read book for the people who have joined recently, this book would speak their voice.
Also the people who have already made a successful career or involved in jobs for a long time, this book will bring back their old memories.
Well, According to me I find this Book suitable for all the audience.

As the story proceeds, the transformation in the plot is done perfectly..
Since I was involved in the plot right from the beginning to end in just one sitting, the letter received gave me a feeling that I could just feel but not express.
I loved the ending of this book.
Overall it was a refreshing, entertaining, realistic plot with a sense of humour.
Profile Image for Summaiya Ansari.
83 reviews2 followers
November 26, 2019
Qotd: What is your current profession? If any of you still in college then where would you like to work in future?

Anecdotes of a White-Collared Slave by Aashish Gupta
Vishwakarmapublication
Ratings:3/5


This book is quick and short. The metaphor paragraphs comprised on one page will lead you to complete this book quickly. Anyways, coming back to the review, this book not only talks about the corporate job life as well as shows the bittersweet truth like deadly, zombie-like work, mental pressure, anxiety, stressful work culture, and a common man struggling to survive in such despotism era.

The mundane work culture of corporate jobs affects the common man lifestyle. In my opinion, not only corporate, as well as other fields, also have similar kinds of bitter elements respectively. I agree with one thing that corporate job is not just as easy as people say.

The beginning was good but further was a bit dull. All the characterization played well in the plot. As Atmaramani's character took an entry then all in sudden my mood lit up to read more. These clashes between them were relevant toward all the employees out there who work despite any field.

The author tried to show up the fact and experiences he has been through while working in a corporate job. His struggle and bearing the advance sarcasm by his typical wired chiefs was a head-scratching phrase that irks me so many times. The higher authority expectation was always high by time&speed. It also includes great efficiency without any slips.

I liked everything except the lack of some narration style variation cause it blinks me a bit bland many times. The best part and the neutral scenes were Atmaramani's entry and his way of emotions as the author tried to show, including the clown and letter part. Since it also includes some hilarious scenes but I enjoyed most of Purohit and Atmaramani's clashes.

Well, this book is enjoyable and easy to read, if you ignore some corporate world touch kind of narration style though. Nice cover page as suitable as the title suggests. This book is not for the beginner. Get this book if you are a techie person.
Profile Image for Ruchi Patel.
1,142 reviews94 followers
November 30, 2021
I was fascinated by title and cover as they are quite witty. But I was afraid if I will be totally able to understand the book as it’s about corporate firm related things and my field is somewhat opposite. But I read the tagline, “He is you, you are him” and I was fascinated by it. I will only mention few points that will give you idea to avoid spoilers. The book started with the chapter, “A white collared consultant and failed entrepreneur.” Mostly all of us are doing 9-5 job. And it’s rarely passion of ours. We had our big dreams and settled for less so author started with a good punch. I liked how author has perfectly described typical office job. Description is too relatable like taking cab, carrying Tupperware, and interpersonal relationships with colleagues and boss. I think everyone can relate to it. Some terminologies are interesting such as KPO firm. I liked the entire idea of corporate world. Author started narration from process of interview and he was hired as Analyst. First friend chapter was good. I liked how witty and intelligent words author has used such as white collared labour class slave. Zombie land chapter name was funny. “What if you wake up one day and realise that you work in an office where your colleagues are the living dead, who only give an illusion of having a life outside the office.” Was quite sarcastic. And about the bosses points are hilarious. Read the entire journey. It’s filled with sarcasm, realistic scenarios and struggles that we all might have faced. The language of the book is sarcastic and intelligent. Writing style of the author is crisp. I enjoyed reading it. After a long I read such good book. Overall good one. Recommended.
78 reviews3 followers
October 22, 2019
One word - loved the book. Okay fine, three words!

Aashish Gupta has put across the reality of the corporate world in such a satirical way that I couldn't stop smiling throughout the book.

Being a part of the corporate world, and that too research and consulting, I could relate to the book so much, it was like reading about my everyday life.

Also, a failed entrepreneur here by all means. You know it actually takes away the pain a bit, when you get to laugh about it. So, for that, a big thanks to the author.

"Unemployment stabs the ego in it's guts until it falls and finds its rightful place on Earth."

The language used in the corporate world is same everywhere - we call our colleagues Zombies, we constantly bicker about how bad the company is, and of course, creating those company profiles and you dare not argue with the Graphics team in the company.

Through the way of humor, the author has brilliantly laid before us the harsh reality of our everyday lives. To get that salary cheque at the end of the month, how we are facing our demons everyday. The frustration and anxiety that comes along with our prestigious jobs are not easy to deal with.

The story of Atmaramani was really touching and showed how cruel this world can be for someone who doesn't fit in.

Though it was a short read, I enjoyed every bit of it. The language was fluid. I couldn't find any errors, be it in terms of language or grammar, though I have the habit of scrutinizing everything I read.

Highly recommended to everyone out there with a corporate job.
Profile Image for John  Trident .
831 reviews23 followers
October 24, 2019
This book reminds of a book 'Second wind' which I read recently. Unlike that one, this is a very short read. I'm glad I picked this book up. It's a light read which talks about corporate sector & professional world, can be read during afternoons. The highlighting factor of this book is it's funny, quirky, realistic & most importantly it sticks with facts, truths, harsh reality we fact in the corporate world. Just to sustain our everyday lives & support our families - we bear the brunt of losing our self respect, happiness & almost sacrifice countless undeniable things in this process.

The plot revolves a normal guy working in the same industry as mentioned above. He basically talks how people working in this field are treated as mere puppets that what they get promised during the time of interview. We're shown dreams during our bachelors study that once we get into a joblife, our lives will attain a sustainable dreamlike state. However, that's when the harsh reality sinks in - things turn out to be totally different than what we expect it to be.

Language is good. Narration is okay. Writing style is fine. Various emotions are extrapolated in this book in a very ordinary manner, especially the frustration & stress we face in our work lives. It's kind of poignant & melancholic altogether. So I would advice readers that if you don't like dark satirical humours & worklife perceptions, then don't pick up. However, if you wish to have a light right accompanying you during your weekends, then this is highly recommended.
Profile Image for shruti.
287 reviews8 followers
January 22, 2022
"You came in when I had given up on hope and hope had given up on me."

Through his soul-crunching venture into corporate life, Aashish Gupta has produced this autobiographical depiction - 'Anecdotes of a White-Collared Slave.' When Aashish receives an offer from a KPO firm after years of staying jobless, he is quick to grab it with both hands. However, the sparkly exterior displayed by the beauties of HR might be the reality inside. With a job as soul-sucking, can he retain his personal life, let alone his mental peace?

As I found myself entering the corporate world, I needed some heavenly voice to guide me through the rollercoaster - both emotional and physical. This book came to me as more of a warning than a mere anecdote. The author had so distinctly and creatively managed to pull apart every piece of a white collared slave. In certain sections, I wanted to ask, "Does this really happen?" - so shocking they sounded. However, I soon got over it and emerged into its reality.

One thing I especially loved and adored about the book was the ending. I didn't think such a book would make me teary, and not for the usual reason. I appreciated the brutal honesty, yet the light-hearted vibe of the book that some made its heaviness so casual. I loved the characterization and cheered along when the 'rat became the lion' and definitely cringed at the confrontations.

Overall, get this book - you definitely won't regret it.




For more such detailed reviews, check out my bookstagram: www.instagram.com/mystic_tales_tintin
Profile Image for Ekta M.
538 reviews4 followers
November 21, 2019
People don't quit jobs..They quit bosses.

Anecdotes Of A White Collared Slave by @authoraashish

Genre- Non Fiction.

About the book- Through this book the author has portrayed the ups and downs in the life of a typical KPO employee. The author has used Anecdotes from a KPO firm because they are based on his experiences, but you will also find such incidences in industry or company in the world. The book gives an unapologetically direct view at the cesspool of own prevalent work culture.
It talks about the monotonous work, long working hours, working environment, long screen hours, egostic bosses, weird company policies, office politics etc. It also talks about people and their relationships and how these relationships work in a corporate set up. Its about experiences that we all have had in our jobs.

#review - The cover and title truely depicts how employees are treated at work place...Like slaves. Even though you aren't working in a corporate world you will relate to it. If you are earning your own bread you will definitely relate to the circumstances.
The starting of the book was hilarious and gripping after which it becomes a bit dull towards the end. The characters felt genuine and atmaramani was my favorite.
This book shows how work culture in India is messed up badly and needs to improve.
Altogether its a light read and i really appreciate the efforts of the author for putting in this topic.
Profile Image for Ronak.
254 reviews125 followers
November 22, 2019

Anecdotes of a White Collared Slave

In childhood, I always dreamed about corporate life. ( Obvious. Because of the money part) but, I as we grow and realized that it sucks, really sucks to work in unless it's the job you love.

This book revolves around all corporate culture and life inside it. Our Protagonist atmaramani is stuck in such a life. Who is frustrated with senior, work culture, etc?

If you are working in corporate you will relate most part of the book. The way he put the corporate world in words it just amazing. From KPO to graphics design everything explained really well.

In humor, way author explained all characters in a really good manner. The frustration of doing a job. Working and not getting credit all explained in this small book


The writing style is easy with the essence of humor that's make a really good to read. Even if you are about to finish I'm quite confused where is the story going. Even though I was able to relate most of its end was a little disappointing.

Indeed It was a fun read. I would rate 3.5


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Profile Image for Honey & Anjali .
550 reviews56 followers
October 23, 2019
Ever since I watched The Office, I've been fascinated by stories that are set in the premise of a work place and if it's a comedy, then it's like cherry on top. Corporate life always scares me and the blame falls upon how it's portrayed in media. I'd like to think it's not as bad as it looks but people who are actually a part of that world beg to differ and since I'm not, all I have is my imagination and curiosity.

This book takes it upon itself to give you the best insight possible in the corporate world in the form of a satire. The main protagonist Atmaramani is probably the epitome of what a frustrated employee looks like, with his rants and daydreams, he makes you relate to him even if you're from complete different worlds and I'm not just talking about him being a fictional character.

The writing style is easy to read and the attempt at humor is appreciated but the use of hindi slang and over dramatization sometimes took the enjoyment away. Maybe, it's not over dramatic and does happen to people in real life but I wouldn't know that.

There were some errors that I found distracting and the plot of the book or the aim of the story wasn't quite clear for me. There's nothing to take away from it, at least for me. It was still a fun one time read for me and I'm sure people who actually work in corporate will be able to relate.
81 reviews4 followers
November 19, 2019
I have read Aashish's previous works and was so excited to read Anecdotes of a White- Collared Slave, but unfortunately it came as a disappointment to me.

The book is based on the author's own life, working in the corporate world. He talks about the experience working at a KPO, sharing instances of his new life which has come with a disclaimer (that he didn't pay attention to). He cribs about the hectic schedule, erratic working hours, arrogant and hypocrite bosses and the Graphics Team which is never to be hurt. All this reverses when he gets to mentor a new joinee, Atmaramani. His disappointment shifts from bosses to his mentee who is always lost, slow and self- involved. The narration includes everything from the corporate world.

While Aashish's writing style has always pleased me, I did not enjoy this book much. For starters, I did not really relate to most of the corporate cribs mentioned, which might be because of the different type of industry that I work in or maybe my company is just amazing 😛. Though, I found it funny at places, it was it as humorous as I expected after reading the blurb. The title is amazing and excites the reader, accompanied by a cover that speaks for itself. I loved Atmaramani's character and the growth it showed. Overall, it is a short, one- time read. Pick it up if you want to pass a day.
Profile Image for Motivationaldailythoughts.
1,091 reviews33 followers
December 14, 2019
Title - Ancedotes of a white
collared slave
Author - Aashish Gupta
Publisher - Vishwakarma
Genre - Non - fiction
Pages - 143
Format - Paperback
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The story revolves around the life of the protagonist Atmaramani who is jammed in corporate life and is frustrated with his boses, work etc. Grab the book to know the journey of every white collared slave.
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Review -
1) The cover of the book is simple but interesting and the title of the book has the power to arouse interest.
2) The plot of the story is good, relatable and seems to be realistic. It is a perfect blend of corporate life, it's struggle and frustration of an employee has been narrated by the author beautifully in humorous and witty style. All the emotions has been described brilliantly.
3) I liked the metaphors used in between.
4) Language used in this book is simple and lucid.
5) The writing style of the author is humorous and sarcastic.
6) The characters are well depicted. I liked the character of the protagonist Atmaramani and the author has very well described the evolution of his character.
7) The flow of the book is well paced which keeps the readers hooked till the end.
8) Overall, a short and light read.
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Rating - 3.8/5
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I recommend this book to those who want to know about the corporate life.
Profile Image for reader from a star.
330 reviews7 followers
Read
December 16, 2019
I am fond of the romance genre
Whether it e classics, contemporary or short stories.
But for me, this was a very different experience.
I have read some elements of romance in adventure and you know that amalgamation of genres to leverage
the reading experience and change the mood.
Well, this is the first story I ever read which relies on both adventure and love as the backbone of the story.
I do not see a merge of any other stuff which is good as per my point of view.
The story beautifully carved and crafted to fit in the criteria of a short story, there is no filler portion or any
boring stuff.
The story itself is core, without dangling from the focus of the presentation. I like the clarity in narration and storytelling very much.
Our protagonist, lover of adventure with a sharp and undeviating focus to climb the Everest,
and in this journey, he finds his love too.
Little filmy but pleasing read.
It is a story you intuitively get to know what will happen but at last, might get it all wrong,
Well, that's what happened to me.
There are twists and turn it all makes it beautiful,
but I find the composition a little too dramatic, I like the twists and turn but not the irregularity.
The best thing I love about the book is the presentation, how every part of the story correlates with story ahead and back, at last how nicely it all fits in 63 pages.
Profile Image for litwithneha ( Neha Modi ).
427 reviews10 followers
December 18, 2019
Not all of us may have tasted the bitter sweet Corporate Life but we sure have heard a lot of it from people around us and of course read the innumerable jokes and memes courtsey whatsapp, facebook and instagram. In short, everyone has been touched by 'The Corporate Life' whether actually been there or not.
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The story is a sarcastic and humorous take on the now prevalent work culture. The story is essentially based on the practices of the KPO industry but holds true for the others as well.
👩‍💻👨‍💻
The story begins with the author narrating his failed attempt at entrepreneurship and joining a KPO. It moves ahead with the hilarious description of the office, colleagues, the work culture and gradually comes to the entry of Atmaramani - the Real Hero of the book.
👨‍💻👩‍💻
Atmaramani - the name sounds heavy but the man behind the name is a frail, bony structure with almost non-existent waist. He comes to the office with a laid-back and relaxed attitude only to taste the bitter side of the KPO culture. The story now revolves around Atmaramani and how he ends up in deep trouble. Will he be able to come out of the situation? Or will he succumb to the work pressure?
👨‍💻👩‍💻
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this short funny book which transitions beautifully from hilarious to emotional without the reader even realising. Super fun read is all I can say !!
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