Michael Ball’s book is a brutally candid manual for the new college graduate
starting out in the
corporate world. Written
in a witty, often bawdy style, it parses out specific advice and general wisdom, distinguishing between the expectations the new employee may hold and the realities of entry-level work. Ball’s straight talk is dressed up with pertinent quotes from a broad range of sources, including philosophers and novelists, management books, business case studies and popular culture. Some of his advice is common sense, like admonitions against romancing your co-workers or being too vocal in meetings. Some of it exposes nuances of the
corporate environment, including office politics and how organizations form and operate. getAbstract.com recommends this book to the novice job holder, who will benefit from being forewarned. We also recommend it to human resources executives,
managers who deal with recent college graduates and senior managers who want insights about what is going on at the ground level. The book’s structural gimmick - its refutation of so-called "lies" about the corporate world - can seem like shtick. Although the lies are entertaining, the book actually communicates a number of useful truths. Those who learned life’s lessons the hard way will find confirmation in Ball’s maxims; they may be the first to suggest that those who are starting their careers should start reading this first.