The Curmudgeon's Guide to Getting Ahead

Dos and Don'ts of Right Behavior, Tough Thinking, Clear Writing, and Living a Good Life

By: Charles Murray

Narrated by: Charles Murray

In the best-selling tradition of Eats, Shoots & Leaves, a gently curmudgeonly but invaluable guide to the dos and don'ts of the workplace

Best-selling social historian Charles Murray has written a delightfully fussy - and entertaining - book on the hidden rules of the road in the workplace - and in life - from the standpoint of an admonishing, but encouraging, workplace grouch and taskmaster. Why the curmudgeon? The fact is that most older, more senior people in the workplace are closet curmudgeons. In today's politically correct world, they may hide their displeasure over your misuse of grammar or your overly familiar use of their first name without an express invitation. But don't be fooled by their pleasant demeanor. Underneath, they are judging and evaluating your every move and utterance. And in most cases, if you want to advance in your career, it is their approval you need to win.

In the course of this pithy and powerful book, Murray tells us the proper etiquette for email, how to stop using such overused and fuzzy phrases as "reaching out" and "sharing", his thoughts on piercings and tattoos and proper dress, the importance of rigor in language and good writing, why being judgmental is good, and other curmudgeonly pieces of wisdom and advice. He suggests how to stand out at work (work long hours when you are young and unencumbered by family and other obligations), when to use strong language and when to avoid it, and offers a bare-bones usage primer on how to avoid confusing words like "advice" and "advise", which look or sound similar but have distinct meanings.

Written with both verve and reserve and drawing on the core values that have historically made good manners the best lubricant to social and professional advancement, The Curmudgeon's Guide to Getting Ahead is an invaluable resource for anyone hoping to land the job of their dreams - or get ahead in their career of choice.

©2014 Charles Murray (P)2014 Blackstone Audiobooks

Really good

Great piece of advice, for a 24 year old like me. Very funny ans witty

Great Book for anyone graduating high-school

Great Book for anyone graduating high-school or college. An excellent listen and some great tips.

The first half is great.

I enjoyed the first half. The writing is beautiful, the explanations are elegant, and Mr. Murray reads his own work really well. I recommend it to my step-daughter and all other young people.

The second half gets all metaphysical and feels self-indulgent. Quit before you get there is my advice. Do that and you probably got your money's worth already.

Simply a must!

Provided a great perspectived on how live should be lived, or at the very least showed one interresting and worth while way of doing so.

Getting ahead the right way

Excellent tips for Life. I appreciate the solid moral foundation from which these principles rise. Last several chapters were my favorite, but the whole book is worthwhile.

Very helpful for millennials!

I bought this book because my boss suggested it. I'm in my late 20s and he's in his 50s. In the past he's told me that I "reek of millenialism." After listening to this book, I understand why he said that.

I would highly suggest this book to any 20-something year old who desires to understand his curmudgeon boss better. You may actually appreciate him for his personality and behavior afterwards--and you may even want to adopt some of his behavior yourself!

An enjoyable book with some solid advice

This book is wholly advice, so it comes as no surprise that there are some solid bits of advice throughout it. It's primarily for 20-somethings who are either just about to finish college, or somewhere in their first or second 'real' job. If you're not in that category, it likely won't help in so vital a capacity.

A well-written guide to a happy & meaningful life for young adults

Charles Murray is arguably my favorite writer of the modern era. In this book, he shares his well-grounded thoughts for any ambitious and intelligent young adults in realizing the best of their faculties so as to achieve happiness and become contributing members of the society.

Murray is fearless!

Charles Murray takes on yet another taboo subject: proper decorum for the workplace. The book is insightful and full of wit and good cheer. It is highly recommended for any young person who hopes to do well in his or her career. Moreover, even if one's aspirations are not high, the chapter on thinking and writing well is for everyone. You may not like Murray's advice--but woe to yo if you fail to heed it!

Satisfied lower expectations, a fair book

This book has some redeeming advice, especially those entering into the workforce from college with little if any actual work experience. This is a must read of the "Entitlement" generation if only to explain manners and etiquette with dealing with anyone at work or outside of work. Being of the generation where we made the "Entitlement" generation of kids, you may want to read this book to help you understand where most of us didn't carry on the lessons of manners and work ethic we were taught. I am somewhat guilty of this with teenagers who occasionally feel that they are gods gift to mandkind, but still are miles ahead of others of the same age or slightly older with politeness, appreciation, and ability to communicate without saying 'like' as punctuation to 'like' every word they say.