3 out of 4 stars
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In a corrupt society where the macho managers lead through aggression and disinterest on the welfare of their employees, there is a remedy for the malevolent regimes - murder. What happens when the work environment becomes intolerable, and the balance between justice and mercy is unstable? The author of this book introduces us to a satirical fiction about "how some people treated others at work," before The Human Rights Act from 1998 infiltrated in the companies system. During this transition period, testing of the new measures didn't appear to be part of the plan. Ben Reuben shed light on the gesellschaft organizations which strengthen the structural dysfunctionalities of the workplace.
Murdering the Macho Managers (the absurd tale of an erstwhile journeyman personnel officer) breaks the ice with advertising Stephen Foster's company, the Fosters Imposters Incorporated. His enterprise operates under the mantra of an anti-macho manager, and his aim is to solve the institutional discrepancies of modern society. According to him, the ultimate solution to dealing with these manipulative employers is murder. His business has been merged with a box manufacturing organization and helped the stressed workers to overcome the overwhelming situations. This absurd novel is an illustration of how people in power are constantly going against the code of conduct, and how the self-centered managers influence employee behavior and company success. Will Foster be able to fulfill his mission?
I was drawn into the story by the ironic and ridiculous approach to some miscellaneous topics, such as sexual and racial discrimination. The author's style of letting the cat out of the bag made me giggle on several occasions. He created a relaxed atmosphere in my reading space, although the subjects discussed are far from pleasant. It was easy to relate to the absurd situations that the characters were facing, as the similarities between a contract of employment and one of slavery are still found in modern-day workplaces. The nihilistic nature of the boss, Hadrian, is highlighted by his "ignorance, fear, hatred, lust and greed." But Stephen Foster taught me the basic principles of the macho managers, and I was able to understand the reasons behind Hadrian's actions better. This clause I loved the most:
Ben Reuben's work gives sense to the nonsense. I fathomed the natural quality of Hadrian's attitude towards his employees, as smaller beings, as if to him they mean "nothing." After all, what is the point of respecting your staff and doing what is right for their well-being when you already pay their monthly bills?Macho managers know who the worst treated employees are in the workplace. He would not help them because he knows his place and according to the macho manager, they clearly already know theirs.
The sharp contrasts between reasonable and outrageous could easily capture you and carry you through some satirical scenes. But I would have liked to see a consistency in the absurdity. Somehow, it left me with the impression that there was still enough room to fill the novel with taunting pieces until it reached its peak. Although it didn't satisfy my thirst for parody, it didn't seem appropriate to drop one star. Perhaps half of it, but this wasn't an option. Overall, I felt that the book clearly conveyed the message, and the bizarre etiquette was ingeniously blended with the topics. With over 30 years of service in human resources, managerial, public and private sectors, the author's personal experiences were reflected in Foster's personality.
I wish I could give it a maximum rating, but I found enough editorial errors to drop it to 3 out of 4 stars. Most of them consisted of missing hyphens and unnecessary or absent commas. It wasn't distracting, but they were persistent. I think this work would appeal most to fans of satirical pieces of literature. I doubt that those who enjoy a traditional plot development would find it satisfying. I encountered a few profane words and an erotic scene with light content. There are some religious references within the absurd material, so if you know yourself sensitive to ironic humor, I'd suggest avoiding this book. Personally, this comic reading has brightened my mood, and I would recommend it to those who wish to pause the ethical behavior, at least for a moment.
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murdering the macho managers
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