It's time to snap back into flesh-and-blood reality and tune in to ESCAPE FROM CLUELESSNESS. This refreshing book offers an antidote to the creeping cynicism and feelings of helplessness that ensnare millions of employees--each struggling to make sense of the strange and puzzling world of work.

There are no sugarcoated management mantras here. Instead, the book uses a punchy text and biting wit to survey the same grim territory so brilliantly satirized by "Dilbert." But, unlike the cartoon, ESCAPE FROM CLUELESSNESS takes the strong, positive stand that something CAN be done to improve things.

And the book supplies a detailed road map for making it happen, leading readers on a journey away from cluelessness and toward a better, more rewarding work life. Along the way, they'll: * Plunge into the murky underworld of office politics--and learn how to play the game (without getting eaten) * Enter the hothouse of interpersonal relationships--and learn to understand themselves and the people around them * Tour the feudal landscape of corporate monarchs, lords, and serfs--and learn to work around the bureaucratic barriers that hierarchy creates * Crack the hidden cultural codes, create pizzazz in a sterile workplace, navigate the endless--and endlessly bumbled--change efforts, and much more.

"Have you ever wondered why so many people in high positions seem to be selfish, power-crazed boneheads?"

"Do you detest office politics?"

"Do relationships at work remind you of a dysfunctional family?"

The balance of the book focuses on strategies and tactics to help resolve (or at least alleviate) the problems suggested by the various questions. The book is divided into several different parts which focus on the nature of cluelessness, organizational politics, improving relationships on the job, "mapping the pecking order", "cracking the cultural code", understanding change, and "choosing [an appropriate] life path." The book makes tons of sense. The authors obviously care sincerely about the victims of cluelessless. They offer what they call "both an atlas and a guide" for coping with system dynamics, "the murky world of politics", "the emotional world of people at work", "the red tape of bureaucracy", "the depths of tribal life at work", and sudden/traumatic change. Finally, they examine "a deeper question that's a silent companion at work: What life path do you really want to follow?"

Who should read this book? I highly recommend it to those who feel that they are clueless and/or victims of those who are. The authors offer excellent advice as to what to do (and what not to do), how to do it, and when. I also recommend it highly to anyone in a senior management position who has direct responsibility for developing others to their full potential. Chances are that many (of not most) of those "others" are clueless, not only in the workplace but also to the fact that this book is available.


Huge Disappointment   May 3, 2000
 6 out of 10 found this review helpful

Take just a little bit of useful information, add a little bit more of relevant information, put in a whole lot of useless junk and fluff, and tack on a catchy title: That's what this one is folks. I usually give away books that I end up not wanting to keep. In the case of this book, I wouldn't do that to anyone. I bought this one yesterday and it is destined for the trash barrel today. It's interesting that trash like this even gets published.