Book Review: I Hate People by Jonathan Littman and Marc Hershon

The long subtitle to I Hate People is a more apt description than its big brother: “Kick loose from the overbearing and underhanded jerks at work and get what you want out of your job.” So, as you can see, I Hate People isn’t so much about hating people as it is maybe… getting them out of your way, or breaking loose of the structure that breeds hostility among co-workers.

You may have a few annoying co-workers, but to aid you, authors Jonathan Littman and Marc Hershon identify “The Ten Least Wanted,” and if you work in an office, you know who they are.

We’re often inclined to blame technology for our always-on, fast pace with the accompanying jitters and jangled nerves. It gets to us, and usually, it’s because people get in our way or interrupt our flow.

The premise of I Hate People is that you can work you way up and out of the crowd by taking the path of a “Soloist.” Are you ready to rise up out of your cubicle? While you can’t change the people you hate, you can stop them from dragging you down.

Perhaps those least-wanted are just burned out from trying so hard – trying to look good, upstage, and suck up. If you learn to recognize the difference between genuine individuals and those people who are burned out or bored, you can avoid what the authors call “Sheeples,” those who are comfortable with the herd mentality.

Looking out for No.1, the authors advise: “The only person you can trust to have your back in this crazy business world is yourself. But today, who has the time or, more important, guts to be themselves? If you’re constantly e-mailing, texting and calling, chances are you’ve developed a pile of masks and personae to deal with others.” And, we know these electronic facades are not showing our best selves.

Here’s where a Soloist comes in - Someone who can fit well in a group but excels when he or she gets to perform alone. That, for most of us, is when we are most productive and focused. Flying solo, or solocrafting, lets you get beyond the pull of robotic performance at work.

Solocrafting means:

Stop talking, Start doing, Stop asking, and Make them believe.

Once people believe you know what you’re doing, you’ll find they will want to help you, even if they don’t report to you.

Article Author: Helen Gallagher

Helen Gallagher reviews non-fiction books and shares insights when attending author and publishing events on Chicago's North Shore. She is a national speaker on technology, writing and publishing. She's a member of American Society of Journalists & …

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