Product Description

Finalist, Best New Fiction, USA Book News Awards 2009

Meet Marcus, Nicholas, Ryan, Maxine, and Gus--five of the worst bosses you could imagine. They make Lauren Johnson's life miserable. Stealing her ideas. Berating her in public. Making ridiculous demands. And just plain ignoring her--quite literally. With only one ally, how can she survive this ferocious rat race?

Based on true stories of bosses' political maneuverings and workers under siege, The Boss tells Lauren's story--a talented but naive professional struggling under a self-serving, insensitive boss who undermines her at every turn. And working around her boss doesn't help--most of the company execs are ineffective in their own right. Lauren just wants to get her job done, but every manager throws up one more needless hurdle.

Disturbing, amusing, and wry, the story progresses as Lauren is forced to upwardly manage the brownnoser, the backstabber, the micromanager, the passive aggressive, the bully, and the idea stealer. Forced into a final decision, Lauren must fight back or have her spirit crushed.

Praise for The Boss:
'The Boss is a rare novel that exposes the truth about what work can do to the human soul.' --Craig Donaldson, HR Magazine

'Deftly written . . .' --The Weekend Australian

'Has all the trappings of a bestseller--humor, inspiration, education, drama and triumph . . .' --Australian Anthill magazine

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #203172 in Books
• Published on: 2009-04-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 264 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781929774890
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

About the Author
Andrew O Keeffe has been observing bosses for many years. He's worked for bosses, he's been a boss, and as a human resources executive, he has worked closely with a range of bosses in diverse companies. He has held senior positions with IBM, Cable & Wireless, SKM, and Hewitt Associates.

While writing The Boss, Andrew talked to many people, all of whom had their own boss story to tell. Some of those stories provided content for this book. There was plenty of material.

Andrew grew up in Broken Hill, Australia, studied economics and labor relations at the University of Sydney, and now lives in Sydney and consults in the human dimension of organisations.

In October 2008 Andrew joined the famous chimpanzee researcher Dr. Jane Goodall to present to business audiences in Australia and New Zealand on the leadership lessons of our instinctive hardwiring. Dr. Goodall spoke about the leadership lessons from her studies of chimpanzees, and Andrew spoke on the leadership lessons of our human hardwiring.

Customer Reviews

I squirmed in my seat - could not put it down
This is an incredible book - a perfect one for a long airline flight. You feel like a fly on the wall watching the most infuriating injustices in the workplace. But because we've all had or have heard about dreadful bosses like those featured in this engrossing tale, we know it actually could have happened.

I've recommended it for my university masters students studying organizational politics. It demonstrates very realistically what actually goes on in most organizations. It is a book any office or professional worker will identify with, and is a salutory tale for anyone new to the workforce. Strongly recommended.

Manger, Boss, Worker, Slave.This is a book for everyone.
I serendipitously ran into Andrew during the Chicago stop on his book tour when I sat in one of his audience chairs to browse some computer books. We started talking and I became intrigued with the book and Andrew. I bought it and started reading it the next day. What a marvelous find.

It just covers all the bases of dealing with employees and bosses. I'm recommending it to my daughter and also to friend. If you supervise someone or work for someone, you should read this book.

The Boss
What makes book so readable ... if so scary ... is that we have all worked with these people from time to time. As such, some of the scenes in the book also make excellent case studies for leadership. A very worthwhile and entertaining read.