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Welcome to Dunder Mifflin: The Ultimate Oral History of The Office
The official oral history book of “The Office,” featuring exclusive interviews with every major player and never-before-seen photos, pulling back the curtain on the absurdity and genius that went in to creating this unstoppable force in American popular culture and why it continues to resonate with audiences today.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published October 19, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 555 reviews
April 27, 2022
"The voice of the show is a very humanistic [one]. If there's a message there, it's about the importance of decency and caring for each other, and that ordinary lives are worth of being on television." -- The Office executive producer / writer / director Greg Daniels, on page 441
Although I am giving Welcome to Dunder Mifflin a largely positive review, I'll begin with two possibly problematic issues about the book. It is somewhat similar (or even perhaps sometimes too similar) in scope / size / presentation to the earlier and excellent The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000's by Andy Greene. Also, since the authors are actor Brian Baumgartner (a.k.a. the hapless accountant Kevin Malone) and series producer Ben Silverman - as compared to a completely objective or outside third party - the tone occasionally lapses dangerously near a continual upbeat love-fest between the various co-workers on the large cast and crew. (I don't necessarily need any of their dirty laundry to be aired, but there has to be a little grit around somewhere. Like, for example, could somebody just admit that Will Ferrell's brief character arc as the new boss was just awful in the shadow of the beloved Steve Carell's departure?) Still, if you are an admirer or a die-hard fan of the 2005-2013 sitcom - which deftly mixed humorous awkwardness with effective doses of heartfelt drama - you will likely have a good time reading the background details and/or recollections in this book. I think the only major players not interviewed were the performers/writers BJ Novak and Mindy Kaling, but otherwise it seemed like EVERYONE else from that fictional 'Dunder-Mifflin' branch in Scranton, Pennsylvania (woot-woot!) had their fair share of included quips or stories.
Although I am giving Welcome to Dunder Mifflin a largely positive review, I'll begin with two possibly problematic issues about the book. It is somewhat similar (or even perhaps sometimes too similar) in scope / size / presentation to the earlier and excellent The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000's by Andy Greene. Also, since the authors are actor Brian Baumgartner (a.k.a. the hapless accountant Kevin Malone) and series producer Ben Silverman - as compared to a completely objective or outside third party - the tone occasionally lapses dangerously near a continual upbeat love-fest between the various co-workers on the large cast and crew. (I don't necessarily need any of their dirty laundry to be aired, but there has to be a little grit around somewhere. Like, for example, could somebody just admit that Will Ferrell's brief character arc as the new boss was just awful in the shadow of the beloved Steve Carell's departure?) Still, if you are an admirer or a die-hard fan of the 2005-2013 sitcom - which deftly mixed humorous awkwardness with effective doses of heartfelt drama - you will likely have a good time reading the background details and/or recollections in this book. I think the only major players not interviewed were the performers/writers BJ Novak and Mindy Kaling, but otherwise it seemed like EVERYONE else from that fictional 'Dunder-Mifflin' branch in Scranton, Pennsylvania (woot-woot!) had their fair share of included quips or stories.
November 17, 2021
If you’ve listened to either of his podcasts, The Office Ladies, the Mike Schur podcast, or read the Andy Greene book, there’s almost nothing new here. A few little tidbits here and there and not worth the time. However, if you haven’t consumed any of those, you will love it.
November 24, 2021
The Office is my FAVORITE SHOW OF ALL TIME! Any other Office fans out there? I was so thrilled when I got this book from Custom House and Brain Baumgartner! Do I have most of the office memorized? You know I do. You can probably also rattle off your favorite episode, Dwight quote, Jim prank, or cringeworthy Michael Scott moment. And you may even have been one of the over 5 million viewers who tuned in (and cried) when the finale aired- you know I did!
Thoughts: This book was a fun behind the scenes look at the oral history of the office! It uses hundreds of hours of interviews with actors, writers, and producers to give you the inside scoop on what was going on that you may have missed. There are some great never before seen pictures and tons, and I mean TONS of information on the show and everything you love about it.
So grab your Dundies and a pot of Kevin’s chili, and call a meeting of the Party Planning Committee to celebrate this one-of-a-kind look behind the scenes of one of television’s most beloved and enduring comedies, from the people who were there from the very beginning. 5-freaking excited stars for this thick book!
Thoughts: This book was a fun behind the scenes look at the oral history of the office! It uses hundreds of hours of interviews with actors, writers, and producers to give you the inside scoop on what was going on that you may have missed. There are some great never before seen pictures and tons, and I mean TONS of information on the show and everything you love about it.
So grab your Dundies and a pot of Kevin’s chili, and call a meeting of the Party Planning Committee to celebrate this one-of-a-kind look behind the scenes of one of television’s most beloved and enduring comedies, from the people who were there from the very beginning. 5-freaking excited stars for this thick book!
November 18, 2024
Welcome to Dunder Mifflin is an oral history of one of the best tv shows, The Office. I enjoyed listening to this which includes input from producers, directors, writers, the crew, and actors who all played a role in the show.
I will say, if you’re a die hard fan of The Office and have read other books or consumed other content about the show, there likely isn’t a lot of new info here. That said, it was still enjoyable. Initially I was a little disappointed most of the narrators weren’t the actual actors/actresses but this wasn’t a big detractor and a few sounded very similar to the person they were narrating for!
I’ve always liked The Office and it really became a comfort show for me during the pandemic. I rarely rewatch shows but will gladly turn to this one again and again. An entertaining read for a 5 star show — 3.5 stars
I will say, if you’re a die hard fan of The Office and have read other books or consumed other content about the show, there likely isn’t a lot of new info here. That said, it was still enjoyable. Initially I was a little disappointed most of the narrators weren’t the actual actors/actresses but this wasn’t a big detractor and a few sounded very similar to the person they were narrating for!
I’ve always liked The Office and it really became a comfort show for me during the pandemic. I rarely rewatch shows but will gladly turn to this one again and again. An entertaining read for a 5 star show — 3.5 stars
August 29, 2022
Brian Baumgartner is known for his role of Kevin Malone on the American version of The Office. He has hosted a few podcasts in which he interviews cast and crew members associated with the show. This book co-authored with an executive producer of The Office, Ben Silverman, is basically a compilation of what was talked about on the podcasts. People featured in the book include Steve Carell, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Rainn Wilson and many other familiar faces, as well as creator Greg Daniels, various writers, and other crew members.
There's a few Office related books that have come out in the last few years. Personally, I think there is room for all of them as each one has its own unique appeal. While this particular book might not contain every minute detail it still provides a good behind the scenes look. Because Brian was a cast member and this show was known for a close family like bond, as the reader you feel like you are listening to friends reminiscing about the good old days. (And the bad days too as the show struggled to stay on the air in the beginning.) For this reason you get to hear some anecdotes that you might not have ever heard had the interview been conducted by a journalist.
An interesting read if you enjoy the show. One thing I really enjoyed is there was a thorough discussion about why the show continues to be so popular years after the final episode aired.
Thank you to William Morrow and Custom House for providing me with a copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
There's a few Office related books that have come out in the last few years. Personally, I think there is room for all of them as each one has its own unique appeal. While this particular book might not contain every minute detail it still provides a good behind the scenes look. Because Brian was a cast member and this show was known for a close family like bond, as the reader you feel like you are listening to friends reminiscing about the good old days. (And the bad days too as the show struggled to stay on the air in the beginning.) For this reason you get to hear some anecdotes that you might not have ever heard had the interview been conducted by a journalist.
An interesting read if you enjoy the show. One thing I really enjoyed is there was a thorough discussion about why the show continues to be so popular years after the final episode aired.
Thank you to William Morrow and Custom House for providing me with a copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
January 17, 2022
"There's a lot of beauty in ordinary things. Isn't that kind of the point?" The ending lines of the show, uttered by Pam in a final talking head. And, that summarizes so much the point of this book.
Perhaps a 5 star is way too generous, but, in the end this collection of interviews and reflections did exactly what I expect a coveted 5 star to do: make me laugh out loud, make me pause and think, and made me even tear up a bit.
Just like the show, this is pure comfort food. It invokes the highlights of many episodes while providing some fun and thought-provoking insight into what went into making the episodes.
The chapters describing the Writers' strike and the farewell season for Carrell were the best. I already get choked up when Pam and Michael say their good-bye, and reading about the behind-the-scenes moments of that scene was a lot of fun.
There are some parts that detracted for me. Sad to say, but most of the Brain Baumgartner prompts I wish were omitted and just the individuals' responses allowed to fill the page. And, I did want some more about the Big Episodes (like Dinner Party), but I suppose that's what the various deep dive podcasts are for.
All in all, as an oral history, "coffee table book," this was stellar.
Perhaps a 5 star is way too generous, but, in the end this collection of interviews and reflections did exactly what I expect a coveted 5 star to do: make me laugh out loud, make me pause and think, and made me even tear up a bit.
Just like the show, this is pure comfort food. It invokes the highlights of many episodes while providing some fun and thought-provoking insight into what went into making the episodes.
The chapters describing the Writers' strike and the farewell season for Carrell were the best. I already get choked up when Pam and Michael say their good-bye, and reading about the behind-the-scenes moments of that scene was a lot of fun.
There are some parts that detracted for me. Sad to say, but most of the Brain Baumgartner prompts I wish were omitted and just the individuals' responses allowed to fill the page. And, I did want some more about the Big Episodes (like Dinner Party), but I suppose that's what the various deep dive podcasts are for.
All in all, as an oral history, "coffee table book," this was stellar.
Read
March 1, 2022This was such a fun audiobook for lovers of The Office! It’s a wonderful compilation of interviews with the actors, writers, producers, crew, and fans of the show. I loved getting all the behind the scenes info on how the show began and evolved. I had no idea what a struggle it was to even get The Office on the air. I especially enjoyed finding out how the show was cast and hearing all of the personal memories and insights for specific episodes. The full cast recording was a treat and really made the book come to life. It would have been amazing to have every person featured voice themselves for the book, but the narrators did a fantastic job filling in. A really great listen that fans of the show are sure to enjoy!
I will not be giving a star rating since this is a nonfiction title.
I will not be giving a star rating since this is a nonfiction title.
September 29, 2022
Добре дошли в “Дъндър Мифлин” – устната история на The Office: http://knigolandia.info/book-review/w...
“Welcome to Dunder Mifflin: The Ultimate Oral History of The Office” е един въздълъг разговор, в който се включват повечето от любимите актьори от сериала, част от сценаристите и създателите му, а за капак към края се появява и модерната звезда Били Айлиш, която била огромен фен и свидетелства за модерния му успех сред младите далеч след края и на последния сезон. Началото е особено интересно, посветено е както на трудностите по адаптацията на доста странната британска версия (която в момента отново се опитвам насила да изгледам), както и на трудното начало на сериала и крайно несигурната му съдба след заснемането и смесените реакции след пилотните епизоди.
HarperCollins Publishers
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/w...
“Welcome to Dunder Mifflin: The Ultimate Oral History of The Office” е един въздълъг разговор, в който се включват повечето от любимите актьори от сериала, част от сценаристите и създателите му, а за капак към края се появява и модерната звезда Били Айлиш, която била огромен фен и свидетелства за модерния му успех сред младите далеч след края и на последния сезон. Началото е особено интересно, посветено е както на трудностите по адаптацията на доста странната британска версия (която в момента отново се опитвам насила да изгледам), както и на трудното начало на сериала и крайно несигурната му съдба след заснемането и смесените реакции след пилотните епизоди.
HarperCollins Publishers
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/w...
December 11, 2022
Only thing is that it was such a shame that only Brian was actually reading his part in the interviews, it felt a bit fake hearing other people narrate for John, Jenna, Steve, etc.
November 27, 2021
“Would I rather be feared or loved? Easy. Both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me.”
The Office is one of my favorite shows. I watched it when it first aired on television and I was hooked from episode one. It wasn’t something that I’ve ever seen before. Every single episode has me cracking up. Every time I go back to watch it, I feel as if I’m revisiting an old friend who knows how to comfort me. I just love it.
I was stoked when I heard about this book being released and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. It came and hurt my hand. This book is heavy and an awkward size but still enjoyable.
Here we get an inside look of how the show came to be, how people fought to keep the Office spirit alive, and some behind the scenes looks of our favorite episodes. We even get to hear from the cast and crew. Hearing the thoughts from the cast were the best parts, in my opinion. I love seeing how a scene would play out and the cast have different opinions on it.
I was a tad bit bummed that none of the stories in this book were new. If you listen to the podcasts from Brian and the one from Angela and Jenna, then we know all the hidden gems that they kept close to them (except the teapot note). All of the reveals in this book were discussed in these podcasts.
Welcome to Dunder Mifflin was a great read. This is perfect for all office fans. While there’s no new insight, it’s still a fantastic read.
"But it would just make my heart soar if someone out there saw this and she said to herself, be strong, trust yourself, love yourself. Conquer your fears. Just go after what you want and act fast, because life just isn’t that long."
The Office is one of my favorite shows. I watched it when it first aired on television and I was hooked from episode one. It wasn’t something that I’ve ever seen before. Every single episode has me cracking up. Every time I go back to watch it, I feel as if I’m revisiting an old friend who knows how to comfort me. I just love it.
I was stoked when I heard about this book being released and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. It came and hurt my hand. This book is heavy and an awkward size but still enjoyable.
Here we get an inside look of how the show came to be, how people fought to keep the Office spirit alive, and some behind the scenes looks of our favorite episodes. We even get to hear from the cast and crew. Hearing the thoughts from the cast were the best parts, in my opinion. I love seeing how a scene would play out and the cast have different opinions on it.
I was a tad bit bummed that none of the stories in this book were new. If you listen to the podcasts from Brian and the one from Angela and Jenna, then we know all the hidden gems that they kept close to them (except the teapot note). All of the reveals in this book were discussed in these podcasts.
Welcome to Dunder Mifflin was a great read. This is perfect for all office fans. While there’s no new insight, it’s still a fantastic read.
"But it would just make my heart soar if someone out there saw this and she said to herself, be strong, trust yourself, love yourself. Conquer your fears. Just go after what you want and act fast, because life just isn’t that long."
March 12, 2022
First of all, this book is HUGE! I thought it would be something I could easily flip through but it holds a lot of text. It also isn’t encyclopedic in format, but more like reading a transcript of people having a conversation about The Office. I’m not sure how much overlap there is with Brian’s podcasts since I haven’t listened to them. I was worried it would be too similar to the Office Ladies podcast but it really isn’t. There are tons of people interviewed for this and it was a delight to hear all their perspectives on how the show got its start, the hurdles over the years, and what the show means to them and the fans. It covers more of a ‘big-picture’ look at the show rather than breaking down episodes like on Office Ladies (which I also love). I did think it was odd that the back cover states it’s “fully illustrated” - it definitely is not. There are some behind the scenes photos but zero illustrations, and most pages don’t have any photos.
January 4, 2022
Overall this was a pretty good read. However, I have read the autobiography of both Jenna Fischer and Rainn Wilson; As well as the Andy Greene Oral History of The Office. Because of that I really didn't get anything new from it. If you have not read those or any other book on The Office then you will really enjoy this book. If you have read them, you will probably be a bit disappointed. The one thing I did learn is that Steve Carrell owns a general store in Massachusetts. Add that one to the bucket list.
August 4, 2022
Thorough and heartwarming. Loved all the detail from the production and creation. I’ll have to check out the podcast!
December 22, 2021
Welcome to Dunder Mifflin: The Ultimate Oral History of The Office is written by Brian Baumgartner and Ben Silverman.
Brian and Ben interview cast, writers, producers, directors, and many other crew members of the The Office to gather behind the scenes information of the creation and filming of those and insights from it's creators.
If you have listened to either Brian Baumgartner's Podcasts about The Office ("An Oral History of the Office" and "The Office Deep Dive") or even Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey's The Office Ladies podcast, many of these stories will be very familiar. Most of the book in a transcript of Brian's podcasts organized together into sections. Where as in the podcast Brian interviews one or two people an episode and covers their whole involvement with the show, the book present points of interest of the show and multiple interviewee's thought on such topics as getting rights to the show, casting, season 1, Steve Carrell leaving the show, the finale, and everything in-between. There is a ton of insight and some fun behind the scenes photos. If you are a big fan of The Office, you will want to check this out!
Brian and Ben interview cast, writers, producers, directors, and many other crew members of the The Office to gather behind the scenes information of the creation and filming of those and insights from it's creators.
If you have listened to either Brian Baumgartner's Podcasts about The Office ("An Oral History of the Office" and "The Office Deep Dive") or even Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey's The Office Ladies podcast, many of these stories will be very familiar. Most of the book in a transcript of Brian's podcasts organized together into sections. Where as in the podcast Brian interviews one or two people an episode and covers their whole involvement with the show, the book present points of interest of the show and multiple interviewee's thought on such topics as getting rights to the show, casting, season 1, Steve Carrell leaving the show, the finale, and everything in-between. There is a ton of insight and some fun behind the scenes photos. If you are a big fan of The Office, you will want to check this out!
July 5, 2024
such an amazing way to reconnect with an incredible show and learn more about the sacrifice, love, and humor that went into it
April 22, 2024
Wow I love oral history 😍❤️‼️ that’s what she said
June 22, 2022
It’s all right there in the title. Baumgartner, who played Kevin on the show, and Silverman, who acquired the show rights for development in America, interviewed most if not all of the cast and many members of the crew about their experiences of making the show and how the show is still just as, if not more, popular today.
I thought this was great. I am a fan of The Office, but not a die hard one. I watched almost the entire run when it first aired (not the last season) and my husband only watched it for the first time in 2020 and I would pop in and watch it with him from time to time… and I watched the last season! And I’ve listened to a few episodes of Jenna (Pam) and Angela (Angela)’s podcast, but that’s all I really know about the show. So a lot of the behind-the-scenes info was new to me. I read a few reviews that said a lot of this book was a rehash of old information. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t, but it was new to me.
I especially liked the info about what and why certain things had to be changed to make the British version acceptable for an American audience. Obsessed with their rules of how to keep the show feeling like a documentary.
There was nothing that I disliked about this. I read a physical copy of the book. There is an audio version which I imagine would be a full cast recording.
I recommend checking this out if you’re a fan of the show.
I thought this was great. I am a fan of The Office, but not a die hard one. I watched almost the entire run when it first aired (not the last season) and my husband only watched it for the first time in 2020 and I would pop in and watch it with him from time to time… and I watched the last season! And I’ve listened to a few episodes of Jenna (Pam) and Angela (Angela)’s podcast, but that’s all I really know about the show. So a lot of the behind-the-scenes info was new to me. I read a few reviews that said a lot of this book was a rehash of old information. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t, but it was new to me.
I especially liked the info about what and why certain things had to be changed to make the British version acceptable for an American audience. Obsessed with their rules of how to keep the show feeling like a documentary.
There was nothing that I disliked about this. I read a physical copy of the book. There is an audio version which I imagine would be a full cast recording.
I recommend checking this out if you’re a fan of the show.
October 5, 2022
If you are at all a fan of the Office, this book is for you.
To learn of the creation and things that happened at the writer's table.
Views from producers, casting directors, hair and makeup artists, actors and actresses include some possibly unpopular opinions.
This was full of nostalgia and a great look at what went on behind the scenes of some of the iconic moments and episodes, as well as things that didn't make it to the screen.
I teared up at a couple of memories, and my son and I started rewatch #7 or so together. as discussed in this, there is just something special about this show.
The writers, the actors, the editors. The ideas. It just made for something magical.
I loved every moment of this. Solid 5 Stars
To learn of the creation and things that happened at the writer's table.
Views from producers, casting directors, hair and makeup artists, actors and actresses include some possibly unpopular opinions.
This was full of nostalgia and a great look at what went on behind the scenes of some of the iconic moments and episodes, as well as things that didn't make it to the screen.
I teared up at a couple of memories, and my son and I started rewatch #7 or so together. as discussed in this, there is just something special about this show.
The writers, the actors, the editors. The ideas. It just made for something magical.
I loved every moment of this. Solid 5 Stars
May 14, 2022
I truly loved watching The Office when it first aired 2005-2013. I watched it all again in 2020. I have a tee shirt and a hat with the fake paper company logo-Dunder Mifflin Company. This book was so well done covering ever aspect of the show I was nearly in tears. It’s filled with quotes from almost everyone connected to the show. Brian Bumgartner (Who played Kevin) and Ed Silverman (Producer) wrote the book. It seems Brian mainly thought up doing the book and ties the sections together. Anyway it was a super fun read. I have to go now to start watching all 9 seasons for the 3rd time. (Billie Eilish has seen it over 18 times!)
November 20, 2021
This is the second oral history book to be published about The Office and it still manages to be insightful and entertaining. There seems to be a treasure trove of stories about the show so many that I'm sure more books could be written and still not cover it all. This book is a must for any fan of The Office!
January 10, 2022
A sad reminder that most of the people from The Office are still trying to ride that high a decade later and haven’t done much else. Mostly a reunion of people talking about how much fun they had without much interesting content or commentary.
January 3, 2022
This book far exceeded my expectations. I received it as a gift and never even knew it was a thing until I opened it up. It honestly looked like a coffee table book that you couldn't really read smoothly from front to back because it didn't flow well and was choppy. I was very wrong with that assumption. This is a huge compilation of interviews involving cast, writers, crew, producers, directors, NBC executives, and more, who were all in some way connected to, or associated with, The Office. I believe this is an offshoot of the Podcast that Brian Baumgartner hosts, as he seems to be the "moderator" in the interviews. I had never listened to that podcast before, so this was all new to me. The interviews/dialogue in this book flow together very nicely and follow along with the series (both the show itself and things happening outside of the show in real life) chronologically and include explanations of shows, inspirations, behind-the-scenes knowledge, and so much more. This made me very nostalgic for the show itself and reminded me how appreciative our society has been of it and how much it means to people. There is a lot to learn from this book, but you wouldn't know it because of how entertaining it is. It's a very smooth, enjoyable read. You kind of feel like you're sitting right in the room with everyone as they talk and reminisce. If you are at all a fan of The Office, you'll enjoy this one.
January 18, 2022
I really enjoyed this deep dive into one of my favorite television shows. There were some really great stories from behind the scenes that I enjoyed and I really liked hearing about all of the work it took to get the show stabilized when 99% of shows in its position wouldn’t have made it past one season. My only wish was to see more photos from behind the scenes or from filming as there were many moments referenced that didn’t have the visual element to knock it out of the park. All in all a fun read and trip down memory lane
*starts series over again*
*starts series over again*
January 18, 2022
There's a lot of podcast vibes in here that are made even more uncanny in the audiobook with 'sound-alikes' reading instead of the real actors. It's still a fascinating narrative for anyone who cares about television production or The Office.
Read
September 3, 2022I enjoyed this. Particularly hearing from the writers and analyzing some of the storytelling decisions.
November 1, 2023
i just love all books about the office :)
February 20, 2022
In as much as the TV show had a voyeuristic slant to it, this book also does. We are sort of a fly on the wall as the cast and crew take us through inception to completion, chatting amongst themselves, sharing memories, divulging secrets. Side bar mini bios and candid photos add to the overall we loved so much about this show. Oh, how I miss them!
February 24, 2022
Between my own research, YouTube videos, and listening to the Office Ladies podcast, I thought there was nothing else I could learn about the show. I was wrong. You do get some great insight into all the pieces that go together into making a show as good as The Office.
February 10, 2022
This was absolutely delightful! If you love the Office, you’ll love the insider’s view provided here. I had already listened to the podcast but still enjoyed the book. Greg Daniels and Steve Carell have to be two of the most stand up guys in Hollywood!
August 14, 2023
Review of the audiobook.
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