Customer Reviews

Dilbert and the Way of the Weasel

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

All I can say is that if you enjoy the Dilbert comic strips, and the content matter of those strips -- then you will love Adams' books. What Adams could not do in his comic strip he *DOES* do in his books.

In his two previous books, The Dilbert Principle and The Dilbert Future -- Adams expounded on the ideas and examples of his comic strip into full blown discussions on the subjects. Such as his often quoted and highly public view point that, "all people are idiots."

He frequently relates stories from the workers on the front lines of the war between the smart witty peons of the world versus the dumb slow witted morons that are "managing" us all. Then to top it all off he includes relevant examples from his strip to illustrate his point whenever possible. So you get the best of both worlds -- entertaining insights, thoughts and essays on typical frustrating or absurd working situations, and equally entertaining but also very funny comics about those same situations.

Read it, you will like it.

This is the best book I've read in a long while. I laughed out loud enough times to scare my fellow transit riders. I'd say if you're sprouting a few weasel whiskers of your own you will find this to be an uncomfortable read. Otherwise, you will thoroughly enjoy IDing people you know and feeling smug about it.

The book itself is well-written and hard to put down once you get started. Mr. Adams has written another best-seller.

I'd recommend buying this book for your family, friends and co-workers just to see how they liked it. Then you'll know who to trust in the future.

In my opinion, this is a MUST READ and a great gift for the holidays. No one needs to know you'll have an ulterior motive in giving it to them, and who knows, you might find out a few surprising things about yourself in the process.

I couldn't even get past the first 2 or 3 pages without sobbing in utter hilarity, not only because the writing and wit are exceptional, but the insight is DEAD ON. I've worked for a major financial services technologies division for 14+ years, and in data processing for nearly 30, and Mr. Adams' skewering of what goes on in any company is so on the mark it's uncanny - I SWEAR he has a webcam in my office building and is rehashing what goes on on a daily basis. The flip side of this is that he IS dead on, and it's a sad, sad commentary on the state of the business world as we know it in 2005. I began my career as an eager to learn & produce programmer, and progressed to frustration, disbelief, cynicism, apathy and, now, I guess in all honesty: weaselhood. Wish it weren't the case, but the odds are so stacked against being a responsible, committed, caring professional in this psychotically mismanaged world of ridiculous rules and obstacles - to say nothing of increased outsourcing (decisions made by executives who never have to worry about THEIR jobs being sent overseas...). It is to a point where you can't survive to retirement without weaseling. And what ==is== the point of holding on to shredded values of yesteryear that would result in a precarious suite of 'golden years' when nothing and no one around you cares or supports your sense of integrity and honor? Sad, but true.

Written by the acclaimed (or perhaps just ridiculed) author of "The Dilbert Principle" and the Dilbert daily comic strip, Dilbert And The Way Of The Weasel is a hilarious yet frighteningly insightful look at a simple principle of human nature: People are Weasels. That is, most people fall into a massive grey area between ethical behavoir and outright criminal behavior, which author Scott Adams refers to as the Weasel Zone. Side-splitting anecdotes, real-life weasel strategies (such as salesmen giving small gifts to potential customers, triggering the human compulsion to reciprocate the gift by making a big purchase), and much more about the venal, self-serving, yet technically legal side of human behavior fills Dilbert And The Way Of The Weasel from cover to cover. An absolute must-read and impossible to put down - cynics will relish every word, and optimists should regard the wisdom herein as a basic manual for survival in a weasel-ridden world.

Scott Adam's "The Way of the Weasel" strips down corporate politics to its streaked whities in the funniest way yet. Each chapter is devoted to an glancing psychological dig at what weasels are, their different types and how they work. See how many you can identify at your own workplace- it's fun.

The Way of the Weasel is goes a step beyond Scott Adams comic strip books and includes written discussions which support each strip. I didn't "get" Dilbert until I worked for a company wherein my big boss's ego was so big you could have used it to plug the hole in the ozone layer. For those who haven't "gotten" Dilbert in the past because you have been fortunate enough to THINK you have well-intentioned co-workers, this book introduces you to many new levels of weaseldom.

I recommend this book to everyone having a problem with a ego-bloated boss or a conniving co-worker. It will help you keep your sanity and put that perky smile on your face while you look for that new job.

This is a typical Scott Adams Dilbert "management" book. If you don't take it too seriously, it's quite hilarious. However, the more I read the more I recognized the weasely behavior of some of my colleagues (seeing the weasel behavior rewarded in quite depressing, actually). Sometimes, in the middle of laughing out loud, you may even recognize some of your own behavior. Here you have to make a choice - go sit in the corner out of shame or just laugh louder.

In this hilarious addition to the Dilbert library, author Scott Adams supports his contention that all people are weasels. In chapter after sidesplitting chapter, Adams looks at what people do, showing how they are indeed weasels. Scattered along the way are letters he received from people out in the workaday world (supporting evidence), and wonderful Dilbert cartoons (illustrations).

Yep, if there is one truly effective satirizer of the capitalist system, it is Scott Adams. This book is literally laugh-out-loud funny. (I had to hold my breath at times, to keep from waking my wife up repeatedly!) If you like Scott Adams and Dilbert, then I highly recommend that you get this book, it's great!

Scott Adams has always done a fabulous job of depicting the trials and tribulations of working in America. This book is a followup to the Dilbert Priciple, if you enjoyed the Dilbert Principle you are guaranteed to like The Way of the Weasel. You probably see people in the Weasel Zone regularly. After reading The Way of the Weasel, you'll find yourself smiling (at least inwardly) at their bad behaviour.

When I picked up The Way of the Weasel, I thought I could breeze through it during a week f lunch breaks. The text is fast-moving and witty and is complemented by Dilbert comic strips. Actually, this 350-page book is jam-packed and took me three times as long to read than I anticipated. Adams describes the many types and behaviors of weasels who are basically people who lie, cheat, and fudge to get the most benefit out of the least amount of work. In other words, weasels are every character in the Dilbert comic strip and nearly everyone in the capitalist system. But, as Adams maintains, weasels are the "motor oil for society." Without weasels, capitalism-not to mention human relations-would not work. We need people to feed us lies and misinformation or no one would buy all our defective merchandise, engage in thankless friendships, participate in government, etc. (345-46). Of course, his book concentrates on the business aspects of weaseldom.

The book is divided into 27 chapters, the longest of which are the first few. Some of the main chapters include Avoiding Work the Weasel Way, Getting Your Way at Work, and Manager Weasels. Many of the later chapters are short, miscellaneous observations on everything from airline service to televangelists to anti-itch creams that don't work. It seems sometimes as though Adams steers his subject in ways that help him include certain comic strips.

Although many of Adams' ideas are tongue-in-cheek and over-the-top, lots of his witty comments hit very close to home, especially if you work in the business field. My favorite topics include weaselmath (pg. 48), meetings ("the person who is the least competent usually does the most talking," pg. 80), being creative with price quotes, and, because I work in retail, retail weasels ("There are two types of retail weasels: unscrupulous (i.e. paid on commission); lazy (i.e. paid by the hour)," pg. 204-so true). I also enjoyed the chapter Weasels are from Venus ("There are two types of women: the ones who are currently in discomfort, and the ones who are actively seeking it," pg. 248). Plus, emails from people who either are weasels or who work with weasels are included throughout the book. The book, while funny and witty, does drag on. After page 200, one is sure to get the point. The last chapters are disorganized and seem to be "filler" material. Adams' arrogant tone is also annoying at times. Still, it is a fun book for fans of the comic strip or those who like light humor on a variety of topics, particularly business.

Scott Adams is the best living American philosopher.

"Philosopher!" you cry? Yes, he's a cartoonist and humorist, but his insight is so deep and biting that the word "satire" doesn't do him justice.

He distills the behavior of people -- both in and out of the office -- into its true form: weaseldom. He's right; everybody weasels to get out of work, get more pay, or avoid responsibility.

And only Scott Adams can make this revalation hilarious.

This book will teach you how to use your own weasel skills to their utmost to avoid work and co-workers, and will teach you to deflect you co-workers (as Dilbert readers know, they're really cow-orkers) attempts at the same.

Buy it, laugh, and get back to avoiding work like you never have before!