The Curmudgeon's Guide to Getting Ahead Audiobook By Charles Murray cover art

The Curmudgeon's Guide to Getting Ahead

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

Preview
Try for $0.00
Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

The Curmudgeon's Guide to Getting Ahead

By: Charles Murray
Narrated by: Charles Murray
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $12.00

Buy for $12.00

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

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
Career Success Communication & Social Skills Employment Personal Development Personal Success Career Business Inspiring Wisdom
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_T1_webcro805_stickypopup
Practical Advice • Valuable Life Lessons • Excellent Narration • Thought-provoking Content • Elegant Writing
Highly rated for:
All stars
Most relevant  
Great piece of advice, for a 24 year old like me. Very funny ans witty

Really good

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

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

Great Book for anyone graduating high-school

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

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.

The first half is great.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

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.

Simply a must!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

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.

Getting ahead the right way

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

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!

Very helpful for millennials!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

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.

An enjoyable book with some solid advice

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

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.

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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

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!

Murray is fearless!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

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.

Satisfied lower expectations, a fair book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

See more reviews