Out of Office

The Big Problem and Bigger Promise of Working from Home

By: Charlie Warzel, Anne Helen Peterson

Narrated by: Charlie Warzel

“This book will challenge you to rethink what it takes to make remote work work—not just for companies, but for people.”—Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and host of the TED podcast WorkLife

The future isn’t about where we will work, but how. For years we have struggled to balance work and life, with most of us feeling overwhelmed and burned out because our relationship to work is broken.

This “isn't just a book about remote work. It's a book that helps us imagine a future where our lives—at the office and home—are happier, more productive, and genuinely meaningful” (Charles Duhigg, best-selling author of The Power of Habit).

Out of Office is a book for every office worker–from employees to managers–currently facing the decision about whether, and how, to return to the office. The past two years have shown us that there may be a new path forward, one that doesn’t involve hellish daily commutes and the demands of jam-packed work schedules that no longer make sense. But how can we realize that future in a way that benefits workers and companies alike?

Based on groundbreaking reporting and interviews with workers and managers around the world, Out of Office illuminates the key values and questions that should be driving this conversation: trust, fairness, flexibility, inclusive workplaces, equity, and work-life balance. Above all, they argue that companies need to listen to their employees–and that this will promote, rather than impede, productivity and profitability. As a society, we have talked for decades about flexible work arrangements; this book makes clear that we are at an inflection point where this is actually possible for many employees and their companies. Out of Office is about so much more than zoom meetings and hybrid schedules: it aims to reshape our entire relationship to the office.

©2021 Charlie Warzel (P)2021 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

A Fortune Book to Read • An Inc.com Inspiring New Book • A LitHub New and Noteworthy Book • A Riveter Best Book of the Year • A TechCrunch Best Book of the Year • A TechRepublic Best Book of the Year

"The authors take the reader on a deeply researched tour through America’s broken work landscape and sketch out a vision of what a better future might look like.”—David Wainer, Bloomberg Businessweek

“This book will challenge you to rethink what it takes to make remote work work—not just for companies, but for people. With lucid writing, provocative examples, and refreshing candor, Charlie Warzel and Anne Helen Petersen highlight what too many workplaces are doing wrong—and how we can start getting it right.”—Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and host of the TED podcast WorkLife

"Charlie Warzel and Anne Helen Petersen talked with workers and managers around the world to get at the meat of how to change the story: trust, flexibility, and equity for every employee level. A healthy work–life balance doesn’t mean a decrease in productivity; it means happier, healthier workers."—BookRiot

Thought provoking

This book takes a very different approach than most regarding the “new world of work“. This book does a great job explaining the history of office life, the technologies that have become common place today, and the management strategies behind it all. I like the way the authors did not as much try to give answers as to pose thought-provoking questions. Definitely recommend it!

Right on time

A necessary, realistic manifesto for our changing relationship to work. Power to the people who power businesses.

Good info, but rambles

Book does a good job of going through the history of work and how it can evolve, but it is very long-winded in the explanations. Each chapter is over an hour which contributes to the rambling nature. If the book was more succinct and broke out the chapters, would have scored higher.

Will be some fiery debate with one of the authors!

We’ll chat over whiskey at Bandon!! As I’m transitioning to a flex schedule it was a really appreciate time to read this book.

Meh

Long rambling opinion. The authors seemed to just ramble on rather than stick to the topic of the book.

Good book but strayed from its central tenant

I enjoyed the first part of the book, until they started talking about a social contract and central planning. That's what has created the problem of everyone commuting in to the office. I believe this type of book - without the communist manifesto chapters - is absolutely needed for executives who make employees feel like they are evil theives by FORCING people to return to the office. One of the most memorable parts, and my favorite, was when they mentioned the Executive should be the last one to return (which is the opposite of practice). Also, highlighted important aspects about a potential divide with people showing up to the office - at expense to family, hobbies, happiness - to get face time with the boss. They should have stayed with the original tenant and explored more ways that distributed remote work has helped employees and employers. Book has some value, but could have been better. Three stars.

Review

I think it's good for some people, but not necessarily for me. As a union rep, teleworking is a big topic, which many employees are interested in. However, it seems like much of this book is geared more towards salaried employees, instead of hourly employees, so there wasn't much for me to learn from this.

Must Read for all Executives

This book was nothing like what I thought it would be. I’m so glad I read it and I’m grateful to the authors for articulating these concepts. This book will really make you step back and consider who you are and what you are all about… And oh by the way, give you some really interesting things to think about about the future of the workplace.

Great book with sections of bad audio

Sometimes bad audio changes this a bit but the concepts in the book are relevant and well researched and makes up for the problems

enlightening, powerful must read

Out of Office was timely recommended to me when I was going through an identity shift between my personal life and work. It clarified and validated so many things, and motivated me to share what I learn with my community.