The Office: A Hardworking History (Gideon Haigh, Miegunyah Press)

We have had histories of salt, porcelain and even double-entry bookkeeping—so why not the office? It is an integral part of many people’s lives and yet we know so little about it. With the publication of this excellent book, that need no longer be the case. Tracing its history as far back as ancient Egypt (but concentrating on the 20th century), author Gideon Haigh presents a thorough and interesting account of the office over time. His approach is not merely a collection of facts but rather an attempt to understand the office’s impact on our culture and society, and vice versa. Haigh is an adept writer—clear, informative, perhaps not as lively as a Bill Bryson but certainly not dull.  His information is drawn from an astonishingly wide range of sources, including pop culture. The book is also peppered with photographs that increased both my understanding and enjoyment. This should do well in the nonfiction gift market and will appeal to readers of Mark Kurlansky and Bill Bryson.

Ian Hallett is a Senior Bookseller at Pages & Pages Booksellers in Mosman

Category: Reviews