Title: How not to do things: The Corporate Saboteur’s Guidebook

Author: Richard Hollingum and Mario McMillan

Rating: 4 out of 10

Reviewer: Ying-yue Zhao 

Most of us have encountered slackers who can weigh down an organisation. It might be the senior person at a meeting who really doesn’t know when to shut up or it could be a newbie who is out to impress by using flash but ambiguous terms like ‘core business’, ‘first principles’ or, my personal favourite: ‘brand champions’. How not to do things is a collection of principles which said people may live by in their working lives. 

The eleven corporate sabotage principles outlined in this book vary from Principle 2: listen to the loudest voice, to Principle 7: invoke mysticism. Principles come complete with diagrams and illustrations which demonstrate the ways to not get things done. There is even a whole section dedicated to the Top-heavy Organisational Structure and Substandard Education Recruitment System (or TOSSERS for short). 

I think the philosophy behind the book is to help people, in a light-hearted way, realise the mistakes and obstacles that can prevent progress and therefore become more productive because of it. When humour poking fun at organisations is done well, you get the likes of The Office on TV. However there is a fine line between satire and waffle, which this book toes the line.  

When I first read it was the corporate saboteur’s guidebook, I half expected hints on how to prank your workmates (complete with diagrams on how to gladwrap the toilet), seduce the boss’s daughter, or even how to embezzle millions of dollars from the corporate accounts, but alas I was disappointed. I was also infuriated that the venn diagram on how to hold meetings made no sense (come on, venn diagrams are easier than pie charts). 

At times I found this little book a bit wordy and tedious. I think the authors are taking themselves too seriously. Although it was funny recognising the flawed business practices which were outlined in the book in plenty of people I have dealt with, it was too much reading for the amount of laughs I got. 

The link that the book plugged www.departmentofdoing.co.nz appears to be a link to a marketing company that the authors run. If you want advice on ignoring the obvious, criticising doers or not making a start then this is the book for you. If not then give it a miss.