Jun 22 2006
Orbiting the Giant Hairball: A Corporate Fool’s Guide to Surviving with Grace
My sister-in-law loaned this book to me last week. With the hunt for a new home, the selling of our current home, school and work, I really didn't have time for another book (I'm currently reading Harry Potter: The Prisoner of Azkaban). But, she put it in my hand and gave it a good recommendation so I read the first page and just never stopped. Luckily it is only 225 pages, so I got through it quickly.
Orbiting the Giant Hairball describes the author's methods for dealing corporate bureaucracy (read: corporate bullshit). If, like me, you tend to feel stifled by the corporate workplace, this book might offer you a fresh perspective on how to make it through your day.
My employer subscribes to the "Fish" philosophy and firmly believes that our culture has improved because of it. I suppose the Fish philosophy has value, but it seems to have been developed more from the perspective of the employer rather than the employee. Orbiting the Giant Hairball provides a similar perspective on workplace culture, but from the perspective of the employee.
It's full of silly illustrations and a few anecdotes that promoted a few audible chuckles from me on train on my way to work. If you have a couple hours free on an afternoon and want some ideas on how to deal with the corporate B.S. in your job, give this book a shot. If nothing else, it's mildly entertaining.