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Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture #8
The Office and Philosophy: Scenes from the Unexamined Life
Just when you thought paper couldn’t be more exciting, this book comes your way! This book—jammed full of paper—unites philosophy with one of the best shows The Office. Addressing both the current American incarnation and the original British version, The Office and Philosophy brings these two wonders of civilization together for a frolic through the mundane yet curiously edifying worlds of Scranton’s Dunder-Mifflin and Slough’s Wernham-Hogg.
Is Michael Scott in denial about death? Are Pam and Jim ever going to figure things out? Is David Brent an essentialist? Surprisingly, The Office can teach us about the mind, Aristotle, and humiliation. Even more surprisingly, paper companies can allow us to better understand business ethics. Don’t believe it? Open this book, and behold its beautiful paper…
Join the philosophical fray as we explore the abstract world of philosophy through concrete scenes of the unexamined life in The Office. You may discover that Gareth Keenan is secretly a brilliant logician, that Dwight Schrute is better off deceiving himself, that David Brent is an example of hyperreality, and that Michael Scott is hopelessly lost (but you probably already knew that!).
Is Michael Scott in denial about death? Are Pam and Jim ever going to figure things out? Is David Brent an essentialist? Surprisingly, The Office can teach us about the mind, Aristotle, and humiliation. Even more surprisingly, paper companies can allow us to better understand business ethics. Don’t believe it? Open this book, and behold its beautiful paper…
Join the philosophical fray as we explore the abstract world of philosophy through concrete scenes of the unexamined life in The Office. You may discover that Gareth Keenan is secretly a brilliant logician, that Dwight Schrute is better off deceiving himself, that David Brent is an example of hyperreality, and that Michael Scott is hopelessly lost (but you probably already knew that!).
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 28, 2008
24 people are currently reading
397 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 10, 2008
Just a few short comments. I've been working my way through some of the _____ and Philosophy books. This one was particularly good as the philosophical ideas discussed were more relevant to normal, everyday life in the work world. Hmmmm, there's an idea: The Office and Philosophy might be a tad more relevant to an office worker than Battlestar Galactica and Philosophy. Go figure.
There's a wide variety of ideas addressed here, logical paradox, Platonic and Aristotelian views of love, business ethics, sexual harassment, affirmative action, and others. You have to be interested in or enjoy The Office to understand the references, so the target audience is limited to fans. But if you are a thinking fan, then this will be an enjoyable book for you.
There's a wide variety of ideas addressed here, logical paradox, Platonic and Aristotelian views of love, business ethics, sexual harassment, affirmative action, and others. You have to be interested in or enjoy The Office to understand the references, so the target audience is limited to fans. But if you are a thinking fan, then this will be an enjoyable book for you.
December 21, 2020
This is a really cool little book – a collection of essays that discuss some of the major tenets of philosophy that comes from a series that examines philosophy with pop culture references for real-world (well.... fictional world) application. I thought it was a pretty neat idea when I picked up a bunch of the books by donating money through HumbleBundle, and was I surprised at what I got.
Essentially, the book looks at Plato, Aristotle, Marx, Satre, and others to show how Dwight, Jim, Pam, Michael, and even Doug exemplifies and embody the ideas in philosophy 101 as the show progresses. What makes this book so great is the enthusiasm with which these great essayists manage to compile and analyze elements of the show, episodes, characters, and moments in such a manner that we understand the philosophical tenets being employed by the show’s writers and can bounce them off the philosophical ideals we likely last studied decades ago in our undergrad classes.
I own several other of these books, and I can see these deep-dives being endlessly interesting and captivating if the rest of the books are as well written and engaging as this one was... But I don’t see my enthusiasm for the subject matter being any more fun that it was in Wisnewski’s collection on The Office. Great fun with an ever-fascinating topic.
The most profound message in the book comes from an examination of The Office and Satre... “the meaning of life isn’t something we discover in the world or within ourselves. It’s something we create through the lives we live: it is through our actions and choices that our lives acquire meaning. There is no model of how to live or who to be, and there’s no single, prescribed meaning to discover. This is the core of a profound freedom: the freedom to be whatever we have the courage to be.”
Essentially, the book looks at Plato, Aristotle, Marx, Satre, and others to show how Dwight, Jim, Pam, Michael, and even Doug exemplifies and embody the ideas in philosophy 101 as the show progresses. What makes this book so great is the enthusiasm with which these great essayists manage to compile and analyze elements of the show, episodes, characters, and moments in such a manner that we understand the philosophical tenets being employed by the show’s writers and can bounce them off the philosophical ideals we likely last studied decades ago in our undergrad classes.
I own several other of these books, and I can see these deep-dives being endlessly interesting and captivating if the rest of the books are as well written and engaging as this one was... But I don’t see my enthusiasm for the subject matter being any more fun that it was in Wisnewski’s collection on The Office. Great fun with an ever-fascinating topic.
The most profound message in the book comes from an examination of The Office and Satre... “the meaning of life isn’t something we discover in the world or within ourselves. It’s something we create through the lives we live: it is through our actions and choices that our lives acquire meaning. There is no model of how to live or who to be, and there’s no single, prescribed meaning to discover. This is the core of a profound freedom: the freedom to be whatever we have the courage to be.”
December 28, 2021
Decent read. Light philosophical insights tied well to The Office. Makes you think once in a while, and laugh about as often.
This did not change my life, but I enjoyed it. Isn't that enough?
This did not change my life, but I enjoyed it. Isn't that enough?
November 8, 2025
How am I the first person writing a one star review of this book?!
There are multiple offensive statements made by authors throughout the book. In particular, there are two chapters in a row that are wildly racist and utterly lacking in fact checking.
The first of these two chapters is about affirmative actions. It contains multiple lies, including (1) that affirmative action primarily benefits “minorities“, (2) that affirmative action requires “quotas“ for hiring “minorities“, “ (3) that affirmative action mandates hiring a qualified “minority” over a more qualified white person.
If this book had any fact, checking, it would have stated that (1) affirmative action primarily benefits white women, even if this was not the intent, (2) racial quotas were outlawed in 1978, 30 years before this book was written, (3) affirmative action would give preference to a person of color who was equally as qualified as a white person, but not a person of color who was less qualified.
But the author presents all of his falsehoods as facts, and then makes long discredited allegations of “reverse racism”, which anyone with a modicum of intelligence will tell you is not an actual thing.
In the second chapter, the author repeatedly uses the N-word… that is, he says the actual word… repeatedly. He seems to have no awareness of why kind-hearted people would say “the N word” instead of saying the actual 6-letter word. He also characterizes compassionate language as “lame” (ironic since the term “lame” is deeply ableist when you look into it) and “politically correct”, as if being a caring person who isn’t deliberately offensive is a bad thing.
At this point, I was unable to finish this book. All of the books and the “and philosophy” series have been disproportionately based on authors of every conceivable privilege (race, gender, ability, etc), but this book really takes the cake.
The worst part is, this book kind of tainted the whole tv show for me too.
There are multiple offensive statements made by authors throughout the book. In particular, there are two chapters in a row that are wildly racist and utterly lacking in fact checking.
The first of these two chapters is about affirmative actions. It contains multiple lies, including (1) that affirmative action primarily benefits “minorities“, (2) that affirmative action requires “quotas“ for hiring “minorities“, “ (3) that affirmative action mandates hiring a qualified “minority” over a more qualified white person.
If this book had any fact, checking, it would have stated that (1) affirmative action primarily benefits white women, even if this was not the intent, (2) racial quotas were outlawed in 1978, 30 years before this book was written, (3) affirmative action would give preference to a person of color who was equally as qualified as a white person, but not a person of color who was less qualified.
But the author presents all of his falsehoods as facts, and then makes long discredited allegations of “reverse racism”, which anyone with a modicum of intelligence will tell you is not an actual thing.
In the second chapter, the author repeatedly uses the N-word… that is, he says the actual word… repeatedly. He seems to have no awareness of why kind-hearted people would say “the N word” instead of saying the actual 6-letter word. He also characterizes compassionate language as “lame” (ironic since the term “lame” is deeply ableist when you look into it) and “politically correct”, as if being a caring person who isn’t deliberately offensive is a bad thing.
At this point, I was unable to finish this book. All of the books and the “and philosophy” series have been disproportionately based on authors of every conceivable privilege (race, gender, ability, etc), but this book really takes the cake.
The worst part is, this book kind of tainted the whole tv show for me too.
August 31, 2025
It could be because I ironically listened to it as an audiobook, but I feel obliged to say I didn’t get the same level of appreciation from this volume as others in the series. Usually I can overlook how it’s published before the show is finished but this time it was too annoying, I’m sorry. Only 3 seasons of American analysis? I’m sure the British series is so superior but we get it, it’s metanihilist. The least the publishers can do is release a new version with a few essays covering the new seasons, but I’m afraid pigs will fly before some anti-philosophy accountant somewhere à la Angela decides it’s sufficiently profitable.
June 18, 2025
I actually like it. Enjoyed it. And didn’t expect to be that good.
I had read How i met your mother and philosophy before and didn’t enjoy as much as this so the bar was low.
I had read How i met your mother and philosophy before and didn’t enjoy as much as this so the bar was low.
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March 13, 2017"The Office is not a show that will teach you how to confront your own mortality. No show will. Even this chapter won't. At most, philosophy (the discipline) and The Office (the show) might force us to rethink some of our assumptions about human existence. The rest is up to us. You will die. And so will Michael Scott"
June 9, 2008
Even though I'm only reading articles based on the U.S. version (The British version is on my long list of "Shows to Watch"), this is taking forever to get through because I read the essays in short spurts, mostly during lunch breaks at work. Also, I'm a little conscious when I catch myself laughing at the quotes, scenes, and other references.
I've never taken a philosophy class so relating broad and, at times, difficult philosophical concepts through the show is extremely helpful in understanding them. Analyses of Michael Scott are the most fascinating because his lack of social awareness and other characteristics (or "faults"- depends on how you look at it) provide complicated insights on "the unexamined life."
I've never taken a philosophy class so relating broad and, at times, difficult philosophical concepts through the show is extremely helpful in understanding them. Analyses of Michael Scott are the most fascinating because his lack of social awareness and other characteristics (or "faults"- depends on how you look at it) provide complicated insights on "the unexamined life."
February 17, 2019
I've read a number of pop culture philosophy books and this one is actually pretty well done. For the most part, many of the authors write essays that are both professional and humorous.
There are essays with topics that I hadn't thought of before, and comparisons to the office that have helped me understand other philosophical ideas that I had struggled to understand beforehand.
To be honest, there were two essays that I skipped after a few paragraphs in, due to rough and unprofessional language, and bad arguments. Which is a shame, since those essays dragged this down from a 5-star
Over all, this is a book that I, as a fan of the show, loved and would recommend to others.
There are essays with topics that I hadn't thought of before, and comparisons to the office that have helped me understand other philosophical ideas that I had struggled to understand beforehand.
To be honest, there were two essays that I skipped after a few paragraphs in, due to rough and unprofessional language, and bad arguments. Which is a shame, since those essays dragged this down from a 5-star
Over all, this is a book that I, as a fan of the show, loved and would recommend to others.
February 18, 2009
As part of my continuing quest to add meaning to television shows, I read this book. I skipped over the essays on the British Office because I haven't watched it and it did get a little boring towards the end with discussions on sexual harassment and the like, but overall it was really fun. It seemed like the contributors actually watched the show.
April 15, 2013
The insights of the various authors along with various references to the TV show made it an interesting read, but unfortunately I did not agree with all the arguments and saw flaws in way some were presented.
August 13, 2018
Parts of this book are about the UK Office, which I've never seen. The essays on the American Office are enjoyable. As with far too many similar books, however, it would have been better if it had been written after the show ended. It was written after Season 3.
June 4, 2008
What happens when you're a philosophy professor? You analyse the hell out of TV shows and take them to new levels.
June 22, 2014
Congrats to my Philosophy of Language prof, the Notorious P.H.D.!
Want to read
May 9, 2009The Office is my favorite show so I bought this on a whim. Cant wait to read!
June 1, 2009
I love this book. It really is for any Office fan. I suggest you all go and read it. :)
August 22, 2013
It wasn't such a bad book, though the last two chapters were both silly and pointless. It was that it seemed to last a thousand lifetimes.
July 29, 2023
I didn't agree to few observations from Jim and Pam portion. But eh. Good book overall.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews