Works Well With Others: An Outsider’s Guide to Shaking Hands, Shutting Up, Handling Jerks, and Other Crucial Skills in Business That No one Ever Teaches You

Finally got around to reading this before my first internship, and it’s basically a cheat code for navigating office politics. I was worried this would be another dry, boring business book, but McCammon’s humor keeps the pages turning quickly. He’s not shy about sharing his own 'wince' memories, which made me feel much better about my own occasional awkwardness. The advice on how to handle crying at work or dealing with indiscreet questions at parties is incredibly practical stuff that they never teach you in college. Not gonna lie, I’ll be keeping this on my desk as a reference for a long time. It’s the perfect blend of entertainment and genuine workplace wisdom for anyone just starting out.

Truth is, I wasn't looking for a dry manual, and McCammon delivered exactly the kind of humorous insight I actually needed. The advice on how to handle someone crying at work was surprisingly profound and showed a level of empathy you don't often see in business books. I loved how he framed professional success as a series of small, manageable habits rather than some grand, unattainable mystery. Even the parts about how to properly shake hands or make eye contact felt relevant because he explains the psychology behind them. It’s a very light, easy read that still managed to leave me with several pages of notes. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to be better at their job without becoming a robot.

The chapter on 'sprezzatura' was a total game-changer for my morning routine, even if I don’t work in a fancy New York office. McCammon manages to condense a huge amount of helpful life skills into these short, snappy chapters that never feel like a slog. While some of the advice about drinking at lunch felt a bit outdated for my specific workplace, the core message about being curious and admitting ignorance is universal. I loved how he used his own embarrassing failures at Esquire to make the lessons feel more human and less like a lecture. It’s a very relatable read for anyone who feels like an imposter in a suit. If you’re looking for a gift for a recent graduate, this is a solid choice that they’ll actually enjoy reading.

As someone who has always struggled with small talk, I found the author's take on being 'meaningfully curious' to be surprisingly helpful. McCammon writes with a self-deprecating charm that makes even the most basic advice feel fresh and actionable. I particularly liked the section on 'sprezzatura' and the idea that your clothes should give you confidence without looking like you tried too hard. There’s a lot of focus on the social side of business, which is often ignored in more formal manuals. While a few of the anecdotes felt a bit self-indulgent, the overall tone is encouraging and relatable. It’s a great gift for anyone entering the workforce who needs a confidence boost.

Picked this up for my daughter who was having some trouble navigating her first real job, and she actually finished it in two days. It covers everything from writing the perfect short email to how to act when you're the new person in the office. McCammon's writing is definitely informal—there’s plenty of swearing—but the underlying advice is about respect and being a decent human being. I liked the formulas for speeches and the tips on defusing 'wince' memories by focusing on peripheral details. Some of the stories about his time at Esquire are a bit wild, but they serve as good examples of what not to do. It’s a practical, modern guide that feels very relevant for today’s interns and entry-level employees.

Look, McCammon is clearly a talented writer with a sharp wit, but the actual utility of this book varies wildly depending on your career. I enjoyed the 50 Cent interview stories and the general vibe of the book, but I struggled with how much of it felt centered on a very specific New York City business culture. For those of us in 'fly-over country,' knowing which bar to pick for an after-dinner drink isn’t exactly a high-priority professional skill. I appreciated the sections on writing concise emails and handling meetings, though even those felt a bit basic at times. It’s an entertaining read that offers some perspective, but the value for money is a bit questionable if you’re already established in your field.

Ever wonder how people actually survive in those high-pressure magazine environments without losing their minds? This book gives you a peek behind the curtain at Esquire, and while the stories are often funny, the advice is a bit of a mixed bag. Some chapters are brilliant—like the 'enthuse, temper, enthuse' approach to pitching—while others just feel like common sense dressed up in fancy prose. I liked the short, snappy structure because it made the book easy to pick up and put down during my commute. However, I’m not sure I agree that profanity lends credibility to a speech, even if Joe Biden does it. It’s a fun read, but don’t expect it to change your life unless you’re a complete novice.

I’ve been working in corporate environments for a decade, and while some of this felt redundant, the section on handling 'jerks and pricks' was spot on. The author has a very specific, breezy New York style that can be a bit much in large doses, but his honesty about his own mistakes is refreshing. I did find myself rolling my eyes at some of the more elitist tips, like the specific etiquette for ordering at fancy restaurants. To be fair, the book is meant to be funny, and it succeeds at being an entertaining memoir-meets-guide. If you can filter out the stuff that only applies to high-end media jobs, there are some solid career reminders here. It’s just not the definitive 'how-to' it claims to be.

Maybe I’m just not the target audience, but this felt like advice for a very specific type of Manhattan frat-bro. The author’s writing style is a bit too cheesy for my taste, and I found the constant defense of profanity and workplace drinking to be pretty unprofessional. To be fair, there are a few decent nuggets about making eye contact and the importance of a firm handshake, but you have to dig through a lot of fluff to find them. His anecdote about interviewing 50 Cent felt a bit tone-deaf and quite cringey. If you don’t work in a high-glamour media job, most of these 'essential' skills will seem either blatantly obvious or totally irrelevant to your daily life.

Not what I expected from a business etiquette guide at all, and frankly, I found most of it pretty useless. The author seems more concerned with proving how cool and edgy he is by defending swearing and drinking than actually providing professional guidance. It felt like reading a long-winded column for young, male jerks who think being successful means acting like you're in a sitcom. I was hoping for something that offered real depth, but instead, I got a list of obvious tips like 'smile' and 'make eye contact' mixed with inappropriate stories. Save your money and just look up a basic list of manners online; you’ll get more out of it without the unnecessary filler.