La Voz

Issue date: 10/30/06 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: Courtesy of amazon.com

Monday, October 30, 2006


Laziness is an art form that many college students have mastered by the time they graduate. Doing just enough to get by is the philosophy of many, and that is the premise of the book, "Bonjour Laziness: Why Hard Work Doesn't Pay" by Corinne Maier.

Maier encourages business employees to forgo working hard and long hours in favor of her "active disengagement" strategy.

Maier admits to being cynical but argues that "business is hardly humanistic." She emphasizes being a workaholic isn't really necessary and since you are replaceable to your management anyway, you shouldn't try so hard to increase the profi ts of your bosses. "Your company expects a lot from you but owes you nothing in return," she writes.

Thus, active disengagement is in your best interest. However, "Doing nothing isnt so easy. You have to know how to pretend." Maier goes on, giving practical advice on "faking it," such as, "Above all, make sure you carry loads of stuff home with you at night, thus generating the false impression that you work longer hours than you do."

In the chapter called "Why There is No Risk in Disengaging Yourself," Maier addresses those who worry about the repercussions of lazy behavior. She promises that it "won't do you any harm as long as it's discreet." The book was originally written in French but was wonderfully translated into English, with one paragraph labeled, "Ethics, Schmethics."

Maier is a seasoned French professional, working many years for a large corporation, yet her insight into business is greatly related to the American counterpart. She also mentions related examples, such as the collapse of Enron. This book is not aimed for the overall lazy connoisseur.

Rather, it is intended for those who wish to embark on a business-related career.

It does a great job of giving concrete examples of what is expected of you, and explaining the unspoken treachery of offi ce politics. This is a great book to read, if you want to be "in the know" of the corporate world. Just dont tell your business instructor you're reading it.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools