📖 Overview
Lucy Kellaway is a British journalist and author known for her satirical commentary on corporate culture and workplace behavior. She wrote for the Financial Times for over 30 years, where her columns frequently skewered management jargon, business fads, and corporate absurdity.
Her books include "Martin Lukes: Who Moved My BlackBerry?" and "In Office Hours," both of which examine modern office life through a critical and humorous lens. Kellaway gained particular recognition for her annual awards highlighting pretentious corporate language and questionable management speak.
In 2016, at age 57, Kellaway left journalism to become a mathematics teacher in a London secondary school. She co-founded Now Teach, an organization that helps experienced professionals transition into teaching careers, and documented this career change in her book "Re-educated: How I Changed My Job, My Home, My Husband and My Hair."
Her work consistently challenges conventional wisdom about careers, age, and workplace culture. She continues to write occasional pieces for the Financial Times and other publications while maintaining her teaching career and involvement with Now Teach.
👀 Reviews
Readers appreciate Kellaway's sharp wit and insider perspective on corporate culture, praising her ability to expose workplace absurdity without being mean-spirited. Her Financial Times columns receive particular praise for tackling management buzzwords and pretentious business communication.
Positive reviews highlight:
- Direct, conversational writing style
- Accurate portrayal of office politics
- Humor that resonates with corporate workers
- Personal honesty about career changes in "Re-educated"
Common criticisms:
- Some find her tone too cynical
- Books can feel like extended newspaper columns
- Characters in fiction works seen as one-dimensional
Ratings across platforms:
- "Re-educated" (2021): 4.1/5 on Goodreads (500+ ratings)
- "In Office Hours" (2010): 3.2/5 on Goodreads (200+ ratings)
- "Who Moved My BlackBerry?" (2005): 3.4/5 on Amazon (50+ ratings)
One reader noted: "Kellaway captures the soul-crushing reality of corporate life while making you laugh." Another criticized: "The satire becomes repetitive after a while."
📚 Books by Lucy Kellaway
Sense and Nonsense in the Office (1999)
A collection of columns examining workplace culture, corporate jargon, and management trends.
Martin Lukes: Who Moved My BlackBerry? (2005) A satirical novel following a fictional middle manager through email exchanges and his attempts at corporate climbing.
In Office Hours (2011) A novel about two women conducting workplace affairs at different levels of a financial institution.
The Answer to the Powerpoint Question (2012) An examination of modern business presentation culture and its impact on workplace communication.
Re-educated: How I Changed My Job, My Home, My Husband and My Hair (2021) A memoir chronicling the author's transition from journalism to teaching at age 57.
Martin Lukes: Who Moved My BlackBerry? (2005) A satirical novel following a fictional middle manager through email exchanges and his attempts at corporate climbing.
In Office Hours (2011) A novel about two women conducting workplace affairs at different levels of a financial institution.
The Answer to the Powerpoint Question (2012) An examination of modern business presentation culture and its impact on workplace communication.
Re-educated: How I Changed My Job, My Home, My Husband and My Hair (2021) A memoir chronicling the author's transition from journalism to teaching at age 57.
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Joshua Ferris creates narratives centered on office life and corporate culture, including the decline of traditional workplace structures. His book "Then We Came to the End" portrays the collective experience of office workers through organizational change.
Allison Pearson focuses on characters balancing career pressures with personal life demands in contemporary settings. Her work "I Don't Know How She Does It" examines the challenges of professional women in finance and business.
Helen Fielding writes about media professionals navigating career and personal relationships in London. Her Bridget Jones series includes workplace dynamics and professional development as key story elements.
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