Throwing the Elephant: Zen and the Art of Managing Up

Throwing the Elephant applies Zen Buddhist principles to the art of managing workplace superiors, using the metaphor of an elephant to represent one's boss. The book presents strategies for maintaining composure and control when dealing with difficult workplace authority figures. Author Stanley Bing combines corporate wisdom with Eastern philosophy, offering specific techniques and mental frameworks for navigating professional relationships. The guidance ranges from daily interactions to crisis management, all while maintaining the elephant/boss metaphor throughout. The book includes practical exercises, meditations, and real-world scenarios to help readers develop their management skills. Each chapter builds on previous concepts while introducing new strategies for workplace survival. At its core, this book examines the universal struggle for balance between submission and autonomy in professional hierarchies. The intersection of ancient Eastern wisdom with modern corporate culture creates a lens for understanding power dynamics in the workplace.

Readers describe this as a satirical take on managing workplace relationships with superiors, using Zen concepts as humorous metaphors. Liked: - Practical advice wrapped in comedy - Short, digestible chapters - Clear examples of handling difficult bosses - Creative analogies that make management concepts memorable - Stress-reducing perspective on workplace dynamics Disliked: - Humor feels forced and repetitive - Zen references can seem gimmicky - Some readers expected more serious business advice - Extended elephant metaphors grow tiresome - Too simplistic for complex workplace issues One reader noted: "The elephant analogies made me laugh at first but got old fast." Another commented: "Helped me stop taking my boss so seriously." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.6/5 (380 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (89 ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4/5 (12 ratings) The book resonates most with readers seeking a lighthearted approach to workplace stress rather than traditional management guidance.

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🐘 Stanley Bing is actually a pen name for Gil Schwartz, who served as a senior executive at CBS while secretly writing satirical business books and columns 📚 The book's title is a play on "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert Pirsig, but takes a more humorous approach to workplace philosophy 💼 The author uses the metaphor of an elephant throughout the book to represent bosses, drawing parallels between managing wild animals and managing corporate superiors ✍️ Bing/Schwartz wrote a regular column for Fortune magazine for more than 20 years, becoming known for his witty observations about corporate culture 🎯 The book was published in 2002, during a period when corporate scandals like Enron were making headlines, adding an extra layer of relevance to its satirical take on managing workplace relationships