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Deadlines Don't Care If Janet Doesn't Like Her Photo

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Do you like grids, negative space, and well-kerned type? No? Fair enough. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a fly on the wall of a creative agency? No? Well, that’s fine as well. You wouldn’t know you were in an agency anyway; flies have no concept of that kind of thing. All they’re interested in is standing in poo then walking around the rim of your coffee mug.

248 pages, Paperback

Published December 8, 2021

82 people are currently reading
196 people want to read

About the author

David Thorne

51 books453 followers
David Thorne is an Australian humourist, satirist, Internet personality and New York Times best-selling author. His work has been featured on the BBC, The Late Show with David Letterman, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Thorne gained public recognition in late 2008 for an email exchange in which he attempts to pay an overdue bill with a drawing of a seven-legged spider. The exchange spread virally via email and social networking sites, leading to a surge of visitors to his website 27b/6 (27bslash6). 27b/6 features a collection of humorous emails and articles from Thorne's life. These and additional essays appear in Thorne's book, The Internet is a Playground. Published by Penguin Group and released on 28 April 2011, the book debuted at number four on The New York Times Best Seller list.

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5 stars
259 (53%)
4 stars
151 (31%)
3 stars
64 (13%)
2 stars
4 (<1%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
Profile Image for jv poore.
686 reviews254 followers
June 25, 2025
Written in a slightly different format, more like a daily journal than a compilation of correspondences, DEADLINES DON'T CARE seemed to give the tiniest, true look at Mr. Thorne.

Soon, everyone is going to find out that he's not as shallow as he'd have you believe.

Oh--and I loved, loved, loved the Red Rocks story. And then having Holly set the record straight.

This will, of course, be going to "my" seniors. Self-professed, non-readers are always open to David Thorne books.
Profile Image for Kimmy C.
587 reviews9 followers
January 18, 2023
Always amusing, this calendar style format book, mostly detailing events at his workplace (always with the emails to add that humorous touch), but also diverting into home life, with the ever patient Holly and Seb. Always a fan of these books, easily read, they’re an audible laugh in a sea of words.
Profile Image for K.
127 reviews2 followers
April 29, 2022
Leio os livros do David já faz vários anos. As últimas edições tem um estilo The Office: situações inusitadas com personagens absurdos num escritório, nesse caso uma agência de design. Sem contar as experiências pessoais do David, com seu senso de humor ácido e implicante. Daria uma ótima série!
Profile Image for Rachel Stevenson.
436 reviews17 followers
December 16, 2021
David Thorne is very funny about work, relationships, in-laws, and being rolled up in a rug and left between a wardrobe and a wall, but I'm afraid that his co-workers are funnier: Gary who can’t come to work because he shot a burglar or ran someone over in Costco's car park or is spending the day hiding in a bush, Walter who has a barrel in his living room, Melissa who sulks because she can’t wear furry mules in the office, Jodie who has an ongoing feud with Melissa, Josh who is sacked one day into a two week trial and tries to argues his way back in, Ben who spends his time in the office watching Wonder Woman films, Mike, the boss, who needs to be regularly vacuumed and Jason who’s annoyed that he doesn’t get mentioned in David’s books.

The book is basically a diary covering the first few months of 2021, including Covid, the Capitol attack, (losing money buying) cryptocurrency, a meteor strike in Virginia, and Bring Your Pet To Work Day.
Profile Image for Gus.
72 reviews
May 8, 2023
Classic David Thorne. As always the e-mails are the best parts but his random anecdotes are also (mostly) funny. I'd say they're improving compared with his previous books.
Profile Image for Victoria.
261 reviews29 followers
December 17, 2021
David Thorne from 27b/6 continues to entertain and make us laugh by replacing apathy with humor. In this book, Thorne embraces new technology by buying a new tv and mocks how thin bezels are. How kids no longer respect face cancer. Thorne brazenly calls out fat people and their “thyroid” problems. Co-workers continue to be ridiculed. I look forward to these books every year and am never disappointed.

https://piratetwinkiereadsblog.wordpr...
Profile Image for Em.
58 reviews
January 24, 2022
David Thorne is my favorite author of modern comedy. It's not a long list, but still.
When I grow up I'd like to be like David; I bet being an astronaut gives ample opportunity for workplace relationships. You should look up on Twitter that French guy that returned recently from the ISS. He looks cool while fixing the washing machine. I fixed one myself, so I guess I'm qualified. I'd like a space walking suit with short pants, though; I overheat quickly without proper ventilation. And I lied about the washing machine.
7 reviews
March 16, 2022
I'm disappointed, it wasn't that funny and the ending ruined the book for me. He never said who Janet was and what photo she didn't like. Holly's parents sound great so these 2 stars are for them. It's a typical David Thorne book with emails and 1 form and a few stories about Holly and his son Seb.

The ending to the book about the claw hammer was an extremely uncomfortable and disturbing way to end the book. That's not even a spoiler, it's just a random disturbing story that has nothing to do with the rest of the book.
Profile Image for Matthew.
414 reviews1 follower
December 15, 2021
Classic David Thorne, I think I often read his books on planes. This one has my seat mate on one leg of my journey properly deduce the book was great due to my crazy and constant laughing. At the start of my second leg my seat mate saw the cover and wanted to read it just from that, I did give proper warnings that it wasn’t Pride & Prejudice but he snapped a shot and was going to try and find it in his library.
23 reviews1 follower
December 12, 2021
Same. Excellent.

Just as good as his other books. Just as appallingly as his other books. In other words utterly and absolutely brilliant. Lost count how many times the laughter brought me to tears.His fomenting of trouble and unbelievable lack of empathy is the funniest entertainment to had in the written word.
4 reviews
February 8, 2022
Devoured in one afternoon

Another great book from David. I would love to work in his office. I am still surprised when he does something that makes him seem like a nice human and a person with some social skills. Knowing that he should attempt to lie about the skateboard with a wind deflector for example. I’m glad he doesn’t actively hate his colleagues, except Jason.
4 reviews2 followers
December 17, 2021
Couldn't put it down. A different structure from his previous books but it had me laughing out loud on almost every page. My boyfriend also read it and says this is Thorne's funniest book but I'd say it's his third funniest after Wrap it in Cheese and Walk it Off Princess.
1 review
January 19, 2022
My favourite tradition every December…

Is reading David Thorne’s annual publication. I hope he enjoys writing & producing them as much as people enjoy reading them. He probably doesn’t though.
Profile Image for Ron.
409 reviews3 followers
January 25, 2022
Probably my favorite David Thorne book since "The Internet is a Playground". Really enjoyed this one a lot. Especially his email spat that turned into a fantastic gag regarding Internet Captcha requirements. That was golden!
Profile Image for Mark.
433 reviews3 followers
November 15, 2025
An author I always know with completely certainty will have me crying with laughter. Thorne's sarcastic and acerbic humour never fails to hit the mark. I was banned from reading this in bed because my laughing kept my wife awake.
Profile Image for Elio Casale.
Author 3 books2 followers
November 16, 2025
5 estrellas. En mi humilde opinión, uno de los mejores escritores de comedia en la actualidad. Todo lo que escribe David Thorne lo leeré con fruición. Me sacó buenas risas.
Buena entrega de ese universo que ha creado Thorne en sus relatos de esa agencia de Publicidad con sus compañeros de trabajo.
Profile Image for David Gian-Cursio.
4 reviews3 followers
December 19, 2021
I was going to say it was a nice chance of pace there wasn’t a horrible death in the book, but he snuck one in at the very end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Joe Solomon.
21 reviews3 followers
December 20, 2021
Kind of like reading Murderbot meets PR...which doesn't tell you that much, except thank goodness they're both a series.
41 reviews1 follower
May 11, 2022
I laughed so hard I cried, then I cried so hard at all the egregious typos and grammatical errors. Still a great jaunt, plus he does magic and wins in the end!
1 review
April 11, 2023
I enjoyed this book

But to leave my stars I have to write something here. Now it is asking for nine more long words.
181 reviews3 followers
August 1, 2023
Excellent

My new favorite author. Hilarious and I hate that I have to write so many words to get my review published.
1 review
September 21, 2023
Hilarious read. This author is great

Great book. It will cheer you up and make you laugh. Big loads of randomness with buckets of tasty sarcasm.
49 reviews
June 4, 2024
Laughed out loud, absolutely ridiculous. This author is incredible. Purchased five more of his books after reading this one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews

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