The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Work [Paperback]

Joshua Piven (Author)

Book Description

Series: Worst Case Scenario | Publication Date: March 1, 2003

Work is bad enough, but what if things go really wrong? The Worst-Case Scenario authors come to the rescue with expert advice for surviving dozens of nightmare on-the-job scenarios, whether in the office or on the loading dock. From savage bike messengers to a bag of pretzels stuck in the lunchroom vending machine, peril is everywhere. Learn how to sneak out of a meeting, treat a deep-fryer burn, and survive a stockroom avalanche. Expertly remove a dent from the company car, extract a tie caught in the photocopier, and survive a workplace romance. Hands-on, step-by-step instructions guide you through these and other crises that can strike between 9 and 5, or on the swing shift. With an appendix of useful interview phrases, a career-path decoder, instructions for playing Jargon Bingo, and more, this is the one desk reference you can't live without.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The latest addition to this wildly popular series continues-surprisingly-to display the wit, style and plain-old smart-ass insight of its multiple predecessors. The secret to Piven's and Borgenicht's success seems to be in maintaining, at all costs, a dead-pan and practical approach to survival techniques in ever-wilder scenarios (though, considering that these are "survival" guides, wilder in this case actually means increasingly mundane). Thus, in this volume-based on the assumption that we spend "so much time in the work environment that the odds are staggering that something is going to go wrong while you are there"-the authors provide precise instructions on how to survive working in a cubicle, being trapped in a bathroom or walk-in freezer, and getting caught "slacking" ("Blame your browser" is one suggestion for habitual Web-surfers). Helpful hints on how to survive an interview are balanced with equally helpful, but funnier, tips on how to ditch a meeting ("If you are planning to crawl under the table, wear loose-fitting clothes"). From dealing with a "nightmare" boss or co-worker to escaping from a lion cage, and from removing a tie caught in a document feeder to treating a finger cut on a deli slicer (step one: "Turn off the slicer"), the authors know the secrets.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Joshua Piven , a writer and former cubicle dweller, enjoys working in his pajamas until noon. Coauthor of the Worst-Case Scenario series, he lives in Philadelphia.

David Borgenicht lives in Philadelphia and is co-author of The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook series (Chronicle Books).

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (March 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811835758
• ISBN-13: 978-0811835756
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #528,472 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Right in the middle of ......, February 17, 2005

By 

ServantofGod - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Work (Paperback)

I bought the "original" "The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook". I loved its humor and so I gave this one a try. I cant say it's bad. However, it's somehow much more serious than the original one, thus less humorous and fun. The problem is: it's not indepth nor detailed enough to cover, in my opinion as a white collar for over 15 years, 1/5 of the common difficulties in an office.

In short, if you really wanna improve your survival opportunities in your job, there are many better alternatives in a bookstore. If you just wanna have fun, this is definitely not a good choice. Therefore, not recommended. If you really wanna buy it, I sincerely suggest you to read the "See sample pages" here on Amazon for a quick look of what those "tips" refer to.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Useless, November 29, 2007

By 

M. ravasizadeh "Massi Ravasizadeh" (Andover, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Work (Paperback)

Are you kidding me, "if you sent a wrong email go to your colleague's desk open his email and delete your email" what is this, a joke?
This book is so useless and written irresponsibly, cause what if some one really does what he says??? you can be charged with misdemeanor!
The only thing I liked about this book is how to escape from the ceiling if you are trapped in a room. That was cool!

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Silly, entertaining, but may actually be useful to someone!, December 30, 2003

By 

Catherine Hallberg "(Kate)" (Boulder, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Work (Paperback)

Everyone has had dreadful bosses, scary or annoying co-workers, and everyone has felt that they arent' qualified for at least one job for which they are interviewing. Fewer of us get to sneak out of meetings- although many would love to!, or how to get out of various small places one could get trapped in. I personally really loved the section on "How to fix a Dented Company Vehicle" since my Volvo has a few dings I'd love to see gone.

The non-emergencies might be do-able; you might remember the various steps needed to pull those things off when you need a status-enhancing rumor to start flying around the workplace. Sadly, the emergencies will likely catch you unaware and you won't have the handy smooth edged guidebook in your pocket to pull out just as the office supplies start avalanching down upon you. Alas.

I was writing this review in order to be able to move the book out of my house when I decided I might need a refresher on some of these things. After all, someday soon my children will grow up and I'll need this book in case I decide to be a slacker! Just kidding!