Working Wounded

March 2, 1998
Syndicated columnist Rosner presents a cornucopia of information on the world of business that doles out advice on coping with colleagues, bosses, employees, dead-end jobs, switching companies, performance pressures, health, technology and being axed. The text is enlivened with sidebars, quotes from sources as varied as Plato, Charles de Gaulle and Satchel Paige, results of polls the author has conducted among workers and short quizzes. Added attractions include witty contributions by New Yorker cartoonist Robert Mankoff (e.g., boss to underling, "It's your job to dream of things that never were and ask, `Why not?' and it's my job to tell you"). The quotes reinforce Rosner's overall message that job difficulties can be managed, although, on some occasions, he advises, it just may be better to bow out. There is never a dull moment from start to finish.

March 15, 1999
Highly readable and practical advice from this well-known syndicated columnist who gets many of his tales of the disenchanted from his popular web site (www.workingwounded.com). (LJ 3/15/98)

March 1, 1998
With some practice and sharp editing, Rosner could be considered the prose version of Scott Adams' "Dilbert" cartoon. He is irreverent, truthful, witty, and, above all, pulls no punches in outlining options in this strange new world of work. How does he keep a reader's attention since, after all, he dwells on the same old topics of hiring, firing, and entrepreneuring, among others? Easily . . . through a combination of answered e-mail letters to his Web site, statistics, cartoons (non-" Dilbert"), actual "working wounded" stories, and quotes to keep the reader thinking. How to manage one's boss? In short, tailor one's interactions to meet the boss' needs. On the issue of assuming a manager's role, President Ike is quoted: "You do not lead by hitting people over the head--that's assault, not leadership." About succeeding in sales, he cites the 10-3-1 rule: 10 contacts, 3 presentations, 1 sale. Informative and interesting. ((Reviewed March 1, 1998))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1998, American Library Association.)