Problem Identified: And You're Probably Not Part of the Solution (Dilbert Book Treasury) [Paperback]

Scott Adams (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 20, 2010 | Series: Dilbert Book Treasury

In Problem Identified: And You're Probably Not Part of the Solution, cartoonist Scott Adams affectionately ridicules inept office colleagues--those co-workers behind the pointless projects, interminable meetings, and ill-conceived "downsizings"--in this thematically linked collection of Dilbert comic strips.

Dilbert, the benchmark of office humors, continues to use its considerable powers of humor for the greater good, helping us to fight the good fight at work despite those around us whose job descriptions seem to include undercutting morale and generally doing everything possible to lead us into economic ruin.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

What started as a doodle has turned Scott Adams into a superstar of the cartoon world. Dilbert debuted on the comics page in 1989 while Adams was in the tech department at Pacific Bell. Adams continued to work at Pacific Bell until he was voluntarily downsized in 1995. He has lived in the San Francisco Bay area since 1979.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing; Original edition (July 20, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0740785346
• ISBN-13: 978-0740785344
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #447,352 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

What started as a doodle has turned Scott Adams into a superstar of the cartoon world. Dilbert debuted on the comics page in 1989 while Adams was in the tech department at Pacific Bell. Adams continued to work at Pacific Bell until he was voluntarily downsized in 1995. He has lived in the San Francisco Bay area since 1979.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The content is still good, but..., September 14, 2010

By 

Peggy Kirchen "manga hoarder" (Wyoming, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Problem Identified: And You're Probably Not Part of the Solution (Dilbert Book Treasury) (Paperback)

But... this is at least the 3rd or 4th go-round for some of these strips. I wish I would have thought to flip through in the book store before spending $16 on it. *sigh*

I really don't have a problem with the strips themselves, and haven't even had any complaint about the print quality. And technically, I guess it's kind of nice to have a special anthology of strips that complain about how the PHB is the problem, but... it's not like Scott Adams hasn't done strips about that in the last 4.5 years. I also kind of think we've had other books with a similar theme.

So yeah, same old, same old. They're still funny, but after a week of leftovers, everyone gets a little tired of turkey... ;)

25 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very Disappointed, July 23, 2010

By 

TCV1996 (APO, AP United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Problem Identified: And You're Probably Not Part of the Solution (Dilbert Book Treasury) (Paperback)

I will probably not buy another Dilbert book again. I understand a treasury is supposed to cover material from previous books, but this material is ancient. There was no new material; the latest I saw when flipping through it was 2005. After I ordered the book, I was informed by Amazon that the publishing and shipping dates were pushed back, but I have no idea why, there was nothing that was not previously published in this book. Adams must have so much money he does not have to worry about selling books anymore because this is the second Dilbert book I have returned, as the books offered nothing new to enjoy. Do not waste your money on this book, I returned my copy to Amazon for a refund. Problem Identified: And You're Probably Not Part of the Solution (Dilbert Book Treasury)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Lacks the Spark That Makes "Dilbert" Great, September 1, 2010

By 

tvtv3 "tvtv3" (Sorento, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Problem Identified: And You're Probably Not Part of the Solution (Dilbert Book Treasury) (Paperback)

Every year there are at least one or two "Dilbert" collections released and every few years a new "Dilbert" anthology is released. Every once in awhile, a random "Dilbert" compilation is released that contains strips that have been already released, but revolve around a particular theme. The theme in PROBLEM IDENTIFIED AND YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT PART OF THE SOLUTION is the in competency and useless managing skills of the Pointy-Haired Boss at Dilbert's company.

PROBLEM IDENTIFIED AND YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT PART OF THE SOLUTION isn't a very good collection of "Dilbert" strips. The strips are taken from 1991-2005. Even though it would have been nice to see some more recent strips, the time period the strips comes from doesn't bother me very much. In fact, that's one the few bonuses about this collection: you can actually see the physical progression of the characters in the strip. For instance, the Pointy-Haired Boss didn't start out with pointy-hair and had large, droopy jowls instead; Wally was fatter and had thinner glasses (you can see his eyes much of the time); and Alice looked more like an obese trailer-park hussy instead of the well-framed woman she is now.

My biggest issue with the book is the abbreviated storylines. One of the pleasures of reading "Dilbert" is reading through a series of strips and seeing how a story or gag will end up concluding. You don't get to see much of that in this collection. The book feels like reading a bunch of punch lines without the set-ups tied together with a few set-ups without punch lines and a few complete jokes here and there.

PROBLEM IDENTIFIED AND YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT PART OF THE SOLUTION has appeal only for the most devout "Dilbert" fans. Normally a collection like this can be a good way to introduce someone to a new strip, but this book isn't useful for that either because it leaves out so much of what makes "Dilbert" great.