the new Ask a Manager book…

by Alison Green on April 6, 2018

Eeeeek!  I have it in my hand!

If you want it in your hand, pre-order it now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Powell’s, or anywhere books are sold.

Ask a Manager: How to Navigate Clueless Colleagues, Lunch-Stealing Bosses, and the Rest of Your Life at Work is nearly all new content, and I’m so excited about it!

It’ll be published by Random House/Ballantine on May 1, and if you place your pre-order here, you’ll get it as soon as it publishes. (And pre-orders are really good for authors, so please don’t wait if you want it!)

{ 106 comments }

{ 106 comments… read them below }

  2. Ella*

    Yay! Congratulations. I’m going to go double check and make sure that my library has ordered copy(ies).

    1. Ella*

      Update: My library has ordered 4 copies. There is already a waiting list for them. Now I really want to know who the other AAM readers in my town are.

        1. Ella*

          It occurred to me that since I used to work at the library, and since the first people on hold lists are often library employees, there’s a pretty good chance I already know them. :-D

          1. Specialk9*

            Yeah it’s usually the librarians who reserve the most books. And often with good taste!

    2. tink*

      My library has 2 copies on pre-order right now, and there’s a waiting list. (I’m on it, but I may just end up buying it instead, since I can do that now.)

    3. WellRed*

      My library has one copy on order and no holds. It’s tempting but, I think I still want my own.

  3. Detective Amy Santiago*

    I pre-ordered my Kindle copy!

    If you end up doing bookplates, I will also get a printed copy.

    1. Ask a Manager* Post author

      Thank you!! Hold on to your receipts — news coming later this month about getting signed bookplates if you have proof of purchase.

      1. Detective Amy Santiago*

        Or if you end up coming to Pittsburgh, I’ll just come get it signed in person :)

    2. OrganizedHRChaos*

      Pardon my ignorance, but what is a bookplate (google was not helpful this time) and how do you get one? Am about to pre-order the kindle version for myself but will also be getting a paper copy to assist any of my employees that may need it.

      I would also love an audible version so I can listen to it at work.

      1. Ask a Manager* Post author

        It’s a decorative label that gets pasted into the front of the book. In some cases (including this one), they’re signed by the author, so that you have a signed copy. I’ll be offering them later this month!

  6. Andy*

    I really hope you announce if you’ll be doing Q&As at bookstores in the Baltimore area; I’d love to come see you speak!

    1. Valser*

      AGREED! Come to to Baltimore to do a reading/signing! Do you have any book tour plans at all?

  7. Daria Grace*

    Since most American retailers charge a lot for international shipping, Readers outside America might want to know that Book Depository has reasonably priced copies with free worldwide shipping.

  8. You're Not My Supervisor*

    How on earth did you find time to write a whole new book of content while also being on top of daily letters and comments? You must never sleep!!

    Also congrats :)

    1. Ask a Manager* Post author

      I took a hiatus from most other work to write but couldn’t take one from here, so if you noticed a period of me seeming cranky in the fall of 2016, that’s why!

  9. V*

    Just pre-ordered a physical copy through Amazon France so potential readers in Europe shouldn’t be discouraged. :)

      1. LBK*

        How does that work? Does just the text get sold to whomever is publishing it in other countries and then they get to do whatever they want in terms of how it gets presented?

        The Bloggess posts a lot of pictures of foreign copies of her books and some of them are radically different than the originals (and obviously she seems to have no idea that’s what they look like until someone finds one in the wild). Often even the title is pretty different when translated. I’ve always wondered how that happens, since presumably you’re at least somewhat involved in the design of the original US book.

        1. Ask a Manager* Post author

          For the U.S. edition, I had cover approval, which apparently is somewhat rare; I guess the standard thing is that the author gets consulted, but ultimately the publisher makes the final call. (My agent is awesome and got me cover approval after I told her my fears of ending up with a hot pink cover or something like that. It turned out to be unnecessary because my publisher has been amazing and lovely and totally gets the book and would not have done a hot pink cover regardless.) But I think I’m just “meaningfully consulted” about the foreign editions. I figure they know what they’re doing for their markets more than I would, so I’m okay with deferring to their expertise. (I’m really excited to see the Chinese and Ukrainian versions though!)

          2. smoke tree*

            Cover design is one of those things where to people outside the industry, it seems really cruel to impose a cover that an author doesn’t like, but from the inside, you realize how many authors have terrible, terrible taste in covers.

        2. Van Wilder*

          If anyone is interested, you should listen to the “Launch” podcast that recently came out on the process of publishing a book.

      2. Daria Grace*

        It would be so interesting to hear what in the book does and doesn’t resonate with readers in China and Ukraine

        1. Ask a Manager* Post author

          Right! A lot of this stuff is very culturally specific, of course. They told me that China, in particular, really likes business books that give insight into working with Americans, so I think that was the interest there.

          1. Gaia*

            That makes sense as we have wildly different work cultures but work together a fair deal. And, as a group, we Americans tend to take our culture with us when we’re in other countries and expect other cultures to adapt to us when they are in our country so it makes sense why the market in China would be interested in learning about how to work with us.

          2. Nea*

            I’m rather terrified at the thought of AAM letters being used as a baseline for understanding the average American workers.

            1. Ask a Manager* Post author

              Ha. The book isn’t reader letters (although some great hits are scattered about in there); it tackles 200 situations that might come up in the course of your career and how to navigate them.

          3. Chinook*

            That makes sense as reading your blog helped me to understand the people I worked with in American head offices. As a Canadian who watched a lot of US tv, I thought I understood what American colleagues were right but reading here u learned where I was wrong.

            1. Ask a Manager* Post author

              Ooooh, if you’re ever inclined, I’d be really interested to hear what you figured out! It’s hard to tell from the inside what’s culturally specific and what isn’t.

              1. V*

                I’d say that over 95% applies across the “Western world”, but after four years on this site my take on workplace norms has been influenced so much that I’ll occasionally get things wrong here. Photos on a resume are standard. References are simply never asked for and managers might react strangely if you ask them for a reference simply because they’re not used to it.

      3. Soz*

        Weird – the ok one is so… boring… like every other business book in the uk. Obviously that’s what sells. I want the American one now! (I’m in the UK)

        1. Djuna*

          I ordered the American version through the Book Depository – they have both listed. The US version is the first one listed on a search (it’s slightly more expensive but only slightly!).

      4. The Reluctant Otter*

        Thank you for posting the U.K. link! Looking forward to getting my hands on this come May.

      5. Mango Baum*

        The two Australian sites I’ve just looked at have the UK cover as well. Time to get my second Alison book!

  10. LBK*

    My sister pre-ordered me a copy for Christmas so I’ve been anxiously awaiting it for months. Almost here!

    1. Arjay*

      None of my loser (lol) family pre-ordered it for me, despite it being on my wish list. I had to pre-order it myself!

  12. Amber Rose*

    I think I pre-ordered mine way back in December, I’ll have to check later. I’m looking forward to it!

  13. Localflighteast*

    Pre ordered on Kobo. Thanks for making it available on this platform, sometimes us Canucks get forgotten

  15. RJGM*

    I’m so excited for this! I’m putting the physical copy on hold at my library, but I also recommended that they purchase the audiobook on Overdrive. Crossing my fingers for that one. :)

  16. Another Lauren*

    Alison, do you get more money if I order the book in hardcover vs paperback vs kindle? My cursory Googling wasn’t very clear on that, and I want to make sure you get the biggest royalty.

      1. Another Lauren*

        Consider it pre-ordered, then! (one copy for me, one copy for my office at large.)

    2. Cassandra*

      Completely depends on what’s in the publication contract — royalties are negotiable. Alison, your agent can probably tell you this, if you’re curious.

      With luck and a good contract, if the book sells well and for a long time (as it quite likely will; I see no reason the content would get dated quickly), Alison’s percentage will go up eventually. We can help by telling our friends about the book and suggesting it to our local public libraries. (Academic libraries that serve professional schools, or have a career collection, might also be interested in it.)

  17. Visionhairy*

    Is there an audiobook? I can’t find an option to preorder one, so asking here instead.

    1. Ask a Manager* Post author

      There is! I narrated it a couple of weeks ago, which was great fun. I’ll check to see when it will be available to order and will report back here.

      2. LBK*

        I almost wonder if the audiobook might even be the more useful version – I imagine as it does here, a lot of your advice in the book includes suggested wording. Even better to have line readings from you of how to deliver those scripts since I think sometimes people can’t hear the tone right.

      3. Sarah in Boston*

        Brilliant! I’m such an audiobook nut and this book seemed so perfect for the format.

      4. Ask a Manager* Post author

        Okay, I have an answer. Apparently audiobooks take a little longer to set up for pre-order, but they’ve requested it so hopefully it’ll be soon!

  19. Gaia*

    Congrats! I pre-ordered way back in December and everytime I sign into Amazon I am reminded and get excited again. Can’t wait to read it (and talk all about it here!)

  21. Jojo*

    Long time lurker, first commenter! I’ve just pre-ordered it on the UK Amazon – really excited now!

  25. Finn*

    I hope I didn’t miss it–do you have information about where you’ll be on tour, or do you know when that will be released? My whole office is hoping you’ll come to Boston/Cambridge!

    1. Ask a Manager* Post author

      It’s a series of individual events (as I’m invited to stuff) as opposed to a coordinated tour, but I am pretty sure there is a Boston one in the fall!

  26. Reinhardt*

    I pre-ordered it as soon as it was announced, can’t wait to get it in my hands! Other comments referenced a book tour, anything in or near Chicago?

  27. Stephern*

    Must get this book!
    I would also love to here about the process of getting this book in print and all the other details. A post of the topic would be great!

  29. Granny K*

    And while we’re planning your book tour, please come to Silicon Valley, CA. We need you. Trust me.

  30. Letty*

    I work for Pepsi-Cola I’ve been with these guys for 2 years never been late I never called in sick or anything. Yesterday morning I had to get up at 2 a.m. and be at work at 4 a.m. I go in do my job until I got to my last stop which was Schnucks and everything was stocked it was an easy day. All I had to do was 12-packs and Oddball stuff like tea frappuccino Kickstart all that. I got done and around that time it was 1158 am and I’m supposed to be out of there by 12 p.m. so I went out to my car and by that time it was 12 I clocked out and went home. I arrived at my house around 12:45 or 12:50. So I as a human being coming home from work I am wore out I want to take a shower and hop in bed because I’m so tired so I did that buy one I get a phone call from Bob which is vice president if you want to say and he told me did I find any banners and the back of Schnucks and I said yes I put it around all the displays and made everything look nice. All he told me was great you have a wonderful day and I said you to Bob I go back to sleep and around 1:30 I get a telephone call which was Bob at first I thought he butt called me because he done that before twice and I picked up and he started talking to me and he sounded upset as in mad and I said oh what’s going on and he told me he’s like did you do anything over here at Schnucks and I told him yes I did 12 packs and did some Oddball and put the banner around those displays he’s like why didn’t you touch the stuff in the back I said everything was stopped so he explained to me by saying certain things wasn’t filled and that he would send me pictures I said okay and he wanted me to call him the next day which today which I don’t see any point because he never gave me the reason why and I don’t have Schnucks I’m at a different location and it’s mainly Andrew problem. Then I got off the phone with Bob the second time and around 135 p.m. Andrew called me and started yelling at me for not doing my job and he threatened to fire me the second time over something stupid I did nothing wrong all I did was stock and go I tried to explain to him he would interrupt me every time I try to talk and I had enough and I told him I have pictures he’s like Alright you send me those pictures and a mean way. So I sent him the pictures he never said anything to me and it shows my before and after Shelf and he said nothing to me he didn’t call me or text me or anything. So I’ve been woken up three times and then Andrew tells me to come back to Schnucks and do the store again and by the time I got there the shelves look like a afternoon person would do when they show up it wasn’t really my job as a morning person to do that when I got there early this morning and it was full. So my question is I do not know what to do

    1. Khlovia*

      In addition to what Dragonfly advises below, is there anyone at Schnucks who could be a witness for you that you really did do what you were supposed to do there?

  32. Dragonfly*

    To Alison: Congratulations! It must feel great.

    To Letty: It appears Bob and/or Andrew made a mistake and didn’t wish to admit it. So sometimes, a person who is in the wrong, covers up for a lack of courage in coming out with it and saying so by being even more unapproachable than they normally are. This is a cowardly way, of course.

    If possible, I would make up a brief report using a matter-of-fact tone, with pictures, times, etc., and would email or text the report to Bob, Andrew, and perhaps to whoever is in charge of settling disputes, just for the record and just so they know who they are dealing with.

  34. Clewgarnet*

    The US cover is so much nicer than the UK one! (Although I’ve pre-ordered the ebook, so it doesn’t really affect me.)

  36. Fernando*

    Hi, I want to take the opportunity and use my real name (even though only the first one) to thank you for all your work here in this blog. I‘ve known the blog for about an year now, after looking for sources that could help me find a new job in a new country and you were really helpful in many ways, from how to write a cover letter to how to behave in interviews. After I got my job, about 10 months ago, I‘ve kept reading your blog, because there‘re always interesting themes. The book is already preordered and I‘m waiting to read it here in the European country where I live. Thanks again!

  38. MJ (Aotearoa/New Zealand)*

    I preordered all the way back in November and it has been ruining my inbox zero ever since, so I’m excited for that reason alone lol. (Plus, you know, the book is gonna be great.)

  41. Specialk9*

    I preordered awhile back, and thought that little icon on the blog about the book coming out soon said it was released in March. I started to write to the publisher asking where my book was, and realized in time that it said MAY. I suspect it may become one of my go-to college graduation books, along with a handful of basic newbie friendly finance books.

  43. Not Australian*

    Yes! Pre-ordered the paperback – it will arrive just in time for my holiday!

  45. Part-time Poet*

    I pre-ordered too, when first announced and I am SOOO excited to have the book!! I usually only get books from the library, but knew this time I wanted to own it, especially because I love Alison’s writing style and conversational tone. I am pretty sure I will want to read it straight through when it arrives. YAY for Alison!!

  46. Woodswoman*

    I just ordered your book from Powell’s. Here’s a thumbs up to you and Random House/Ballantine for supporting independent booksellers. Looking forward to reading it!

  47. Yvette*

    I won a copy as well, and while I have not yet read it cover to cover in order, I have had a lot of fun opening it at random spots and reading what was there.

  48. Ro*

    Awesome! I can’t wait to read it!

    Also, I have a niece and a nephew graduating from college soon- wondering if this would make for a good graduation gift? (I plan to give them cash too!:)

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