Patron comment on 2013-11-17

“Outsiders on the Inside,” by David Couper, focuses on teaching how individuals deemed unique or different can fit into standard organizations or corporations. Couper does a fine job highlighting his background and experience as an “outsider,” with interesting anecdotes about past jobs that give validation to his role as an “expert” on outsiders. After this, however, the guide falls flat. Couper seems to be trying to appeal to the modern, millennial sense of the word outsider—the trendy, tech-savvy, creative thinker who defies the strict structure of the corporate world. However, he fails in this regard. His description of an outsider seems to instead encompass strange people with odd behaviors that would typically be displaced in an organization (in one instance, a hippie who worked at an engineering firm and would read tarot cards to her confused coworkers during lunch). What’s more, the author seems a bit pompous in how he describes the exile of outsiders, even though certain people’s behaviors seem to warrant rejection. While Couper does give some solid advice, such as promoting the use of internal reflection and giving tips on how to utilize social networks to find jobs, the whole book seems a little forced. However, I still believe it’s a good read for anyone looking for insight on how to turn their quirks into positives at work.