by Scott Adams
Part of Dilbert, book 44
First published 2016
Dilbert searches for new ways to endure the soul-crushing modern workplace in this collection of comic strips. The hapless office worker tries yoga, feng shui, and Irish dance, hoping these practices might cure his job dissatisfaction. They don't work. So Dilbert turns to technology instead. He equips himself with a wearable brain stimulator and swallows nanorobots to combat stress, boredom, and the health risks of sitting all day. These upgrades transform him into a cyborg with an artificial personality, but at least meetings become bearable. While his bosses remain idiots and his cubicle stays cramped, Dilbert finds small victories through his technological enhancements. The strips capture the absurdity of corporate life, where workers like Dilbert feel trapped in a system designed by and for incompetents. His attempts at self-improvement through both ancient practices and futuristic gadgets reflect the desperation of employees everywhere who seek any escape from workplace misery.
Genres: fiction, satire, humor, contemporary, comedy, workplace
Vibes: absurdist, humorous, satirical
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, workplace-comedy
Period: 21st-Century
160 pages · Kindle Edition · Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC