[.ca] Dilbert and the Way of the Weasel (ISBN 0060518057)

Joe McCarthy Tactics of Baseless Accusations:
"Everyone's a WEASEL". "Everything your coworkers do that you don't agree with means they're a WEASEL." "If your boss doesn't agree with you, it means he's a WEASEL." This is the worst Dilbert ever. Adams accuses everyone of having manipulative intentions. But Adams doesn't feel the need to prove anything. In truth, Adams is the one with the manipulative intentions. These tactics are the same tactics Joe McCarthy used in the 1950's when he accused everyone of being a communist. Baseless accusations, that play on people's fears of being called a 'Communist'. If you do read this book, substitute the word 'Communist', or 'Witch', or any negative label used in history, for the word 'Weasel'. This book is an endless litany of name calling and mean-spirited humor. You'll be none the smarter after having read it. "Dilbert Principle" is much better.

"To err is human, to cover it up is weasel" "FFT-FFT":
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.

Weak start, takes off:
I've always been a fan of Adams, but he's very frank about his own laziness. He can give people more of the same, and they'll lap it up. Still, while Dilbert stopped being funny some time ago, I thought that his prose work would remained fresh. After reading the first fifth of this book, I was getting concerned, but it gathers energy for a strong finish. The beginning deals with the usual Dilbert fare - being a weasel, i.e. financially, emotionally and chronologically shortchanging your boss, co-workers and family members. Far too much space seems to be devoted to this material. A lot of his points are obvious, rehashes of things he's said too many times before, and it's not that funny. Near the end, though, Adams is like a drunk losing his inhibitions; his stories become more personal and his humor more robust, and some of the passages near the end still have the power to make you keel over with laughter. The story of the beginning of his career is particularly hilarious. The price is a bit high for a book which is only half-good, it still seems to me; read this one in the bookstore, on one or the comfy chairs they provide for you.

This AudioBook endangers your very life!:
If you're listening to this book, while driving on the freeway you're likely to wildly swerve around, because you have tears in your eyes from laughing! Dangerous to your health!

Good in spots:
This is the first Dilbert book I have actually read and I am a great fan, but... Half the book is okay. Fourth of the the book is so funny it made me cry Fourth of the book is predictable chatter to make the book sell Tenth of the book is offensive (can't add huh?) What I learned from this book was that it must be cool to get to have people send you ideas (write your stories for you) and then draw a comic strip and get paid big buckos! I still am glad I read it!