The Office Spotlight

Well, week 2 of COVID-19 isolation yielded no finished books. Why? ... I've been binge-watching The Office for perhaps the 15th time. BUT, in my defense, it is my mom's first time watching it... I'm doing this for her! Really.

Anyway... my obsession with the office translates to books, too! A new book has been released and it is all about the best show ever! I am beyond excited about this book, and I've been inspired to review other books by some of the world's best actors/actresses. Without further ado, here is my The Office Spotlight:

The Book With No Pictures - B.J. Novak (5/5 WUPHF Investors)

Yes, this book is absolutely ridiculous and silly; however, I loved it! I could just hear my students laughing at this book. I know if I read it in class, it would be a complete hit because what's better than your teacher being silly? The English major in me wants to delve deeper into the meaning of a children's book with no pictures, but I won't. I just think it was worth the $10 and I hope to have a 100 kids one day so I can read it to all of them, and none of them can say no to being my friend.

One More Thing - B.J. Novak (5/5 WUPHF Investors)

To my dismay, this book was not a memoir; however, the genius of BJ Novak can be seen in these fictional short stories. I had originally listened to the audiobook version, and was not disappointed! Tons of famous voices (Rainn, Jenna, and Mindy included) read stories. BJ's writing style never fails to disappoint me. Another must read to add to your list!

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) - Mindy Kaling (4/5 RYANs)

I read this book as an angsty teen, and man, did I want Mindy to be my best friend! Her stories of childhood and awkwardness helped me feel less alone in the world. Reading about Mindy's childhood and personal endeavors helped me appreciate her more as a writer. She is an inspiration, and if you don't believe me, watch The Mindy Project until you change your mind.

Why Not Me? - Mindy Kaling (5/5 RYANs)

Trust me when I say, Mindy is nothing like her character Kelly Kapoor. If you couldn't gauge that in her first book, you can definitely gauge it in this one. This book is more about her professional career and attempt to navigate adulthood. Now that I'm writing about it, I might give this a reread because I enjoyed it so much nearly 4 years ago!

The Bassoon King - Rainn Wilson (5/5 Beets)

Rainn Wilson was absolutely made to play Dwight Shrute and his memoir is proof of that. I read this while I lived in Boston, and it made riding the T for an hour a day worth it! I devoured this book. Rainn made me laugh numerous times as he detailed his childhood. I found myself rooting for him as he attempted to break into show biz in New York. The relationship he has with his wife is absolutely adorable and was such a pleasure to read about. Honestly, I rewatched The Office after reading this memoir and I had a newfound appreciation for Rainn Wilson and his ability to act. This book is a must.

The Actor's Life: A Survival Guide - Jenna Fischer (3/5 Drawings)

I'm not an aspiring actor, so this book didn't speak to me, but I do love Jenna Fischer, so I still really enjoyed it! I enjoyed the aspects of the book that read like a memoir of Jenna's journey into acting. Overall, I'm glad I read this book, but I would probably only recommend it to aspiring actors.

My Squirrel Days - Ellie Kemper (4/5 Squirrels)

I debated for a while about whether or not I should buy this book... nothing against Ellie Kemper as an actress, I just really didn't like Erin as a character in The Office. Nevertheless, I wanted my collection to be complete, so I broke down and bought this book. I mean, Ellie was on The Office for quite a bit (just not during my absolute favorite seasons). This is the book I am currently reading, so I'll let ya'll know how I like it!

Edit: This book was absolutely wonderful and I'm so happy that I gave it a chance! Ellie writes short chapters that are quick and witty like her personality. At the end, I felt like I personally knew her! She focused only on interesting stories rather than creating a long, boring autobiography. I know that after reading this, I will be rewatching Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s - Andy Greene (10/5 Dundies)

For years I searched for this book thinking that it must exist. For years I thought I was missing a key search term because I never found this book. Then, a week ago, the world was blessed with this publication. This is one of the best books I've ever read! Greene keeps his commentary short, so it really is the creators/writers/directors/actors speaking in those pages. It's so wonderful to hear how everything came to be. Each season has it's own chapter, but the one thing I really love, is that key episodes (Dinner Party, Stress Relief, etc.) have their own chapters, too! This is a MUST MUST read for any fan of The Office. It made my time in quarantine so much more enjoyable!

COMING SOON: (yes, I have preordered this)

A Day at Dunder Mifflin Elementary by Robb Pearlman Illustrated by Melanie Demmer

UPDATE: This book has come out and is an adorable illustrative version of this fun show. It's a great way to get the young kids into loving The Office ;)

And finally, everyone who is a fan or not a fan needs to watch John's new video during these trying times: