100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings: How to Get By Without Even Trying

Let me begin by saying that I have worked in corporate America for most of my career. I have witnessed first-hand the ongoing comedy of errors that is corporate culture in this country. Sarah Cooper’s “100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings” laugh-out-load hilariously explores the central mechanism, meetings, by which most corporate actors pretend to reach decisions (in fact, most decisions are made by individuals who then use meetings to get everyone else to agree). While this fully illustrated book begins with regular meetings, it also delves into conference calls, team meetings, presentations, team dinners, networking events, etc. As well as, all the associated strategies such as whiteboard tactics, conference room playbook, and what to do with your face during meetings. If you want a good laugh at the expense of corporate culture or alternately, if you want to learn how to get raises and promotions in corporate America without actually having to do too much, this is the book for you!My favorite tactic for Conference Calls was #29 instant message other attendees during the call. This is an honored ritual in my company necessary to kvetch about whoever is running the call or talking on the call and occasionally what the latest sports scores are.Seriously, Cooper’s brilliantly humorous riff strips away the facade of “managerial competence” that corporate America seems to accrue to itself for no particularly discernible reason. While the book comically poses tactics and strategies to get ahead, she is really giving you a glimpse into modern corporate behavior that, for me, rang true on so many levels and also made me LOL.I received a pre-publication electronic copy of the book, but have already purchased five hard-copies to give to friends and family. I also follow Cooper on her website the Cooper Review – check it out.

Sarah Cooper is one of the funniest writers who makes fun of life in corporate America, mostly tech related, N. Californian blend. Her style of mixing short and striking humor bits with her hand drawn cartoons is great, even for someone who comes from a country where government bans twitter and/or facebook every time someone displays such great humor.Is her humor comparable to the famous Dilbert cartoons? I believe that is a big YES. (you are welcome Sarah, I will just make this sound like I did not get compensated by you or your publisher or both). As she says in the book somewhere: "Like most women I am not a man". That is, Sarah is a woman. I think she will one day be called by the American textbooks as the female Mark Twain!I have been following Sarah Cooper (the author) for about a year from her The Cooper Review web site, so I am not completely unaware of her funny cartoons. Actually I bet her on twitter that I would be the first one to review (genuinely, after buying and reading the book) this wonderful book and so as promised I am delivering that review. She is way too funnier than I expected in this book. Her humor is so timely that when you read her book, it will already be where the puck is going to be.I hope you will enjoy reading/looking at this lovely and funny book as much as I did.

We all have to go to those out of town corporate meetings.This is something so funny but it also really does work. Can you please go back a slide is the best

My wife and I really liked this. It makes fun of lots of things you see everyday in business meetings. But not only was it funny, there really some good examples there. Things we could use. It also made us feel better that our organizations aren't the only ones that do inane things.It is short. We felt like it could have been a bit cheaper based on the fact that we were able to read it in 20 minutes each. Overall we liked it.

What a delightful book. I initially ordered this for my grown daughter, after she regaled me with tales of her business meetings and the characters involved. When the book arrived, I decided to scan through it and was struck by the well thought out meeting "tricks". Some caused me to laugh out loud. Some immediately brought to mind some of my coworkers and some I'm holding onto to use in my own meetings. Sarah Cooper writes with fresh honesty and gentle wit. Why did she write this book? Ms. Cooper tells you: "..because someone paid me to. But I also wrote it because I had a deadline." Oh, I "forgot" to gift this to my daughter, so looks like I'll need to order another copy.

I’m loving this book. It's so funny and it teaches you lots of things. highly recommended

It’s quite funny but I preferred to stop after 20 pages. I found it not relevant and not bringing much, while I can read much more entertaining things. I heard good things from friends but it’s not a fit for me.

Produit conforme! Livré dans les délais! Je recommande.

I found this hilarious. It is an easy, dip in and out read. I understand the author has since established herself as a ‘virtual’ comedienne during lockdown. I am not surprised. Some of what she relates about meetings has occurred to me before now. But she has also managed to wrap it all up in a laugh out loud short read, something I would never be able to achieve. I look forward to hearing and seeing more of her.

Me veo reflejado en muchas de las situaciones. Sólo puedo decir que jajajajajaja, el que haya trabajado con equipos lo entenderá