“This meeting really could have been an email.”
COVID-19 has made the meme, “This meeting really could have email,” into a worldwide ideology. Even Microsoft tweeted the statement in early August, echoing the cries of countless hardworking working-from-home individuals. The thought process behind it is pretty self-explanatory; there is an excess of wasted time within the modern American workforce.
When reading Shea Serrano’s book, “Conference Room, Five Minutes,” I got that same feeling as the Microsoft meme. The book is laughable, lovable, and quirky, but it’s not necessary for the slightest. Comparing the ideology of wasted time with this book sounds rather harsh, but I think even Serrano would agree.
To that effect, I say, “This book really could have remained a TV show.”
Proof of that agreement comes quickly upon reading the book; Serrano’s introduction includes a lengthy circulatory declaration. Making the reader think it will end with profound meaning, yet in actuality, it ends with the statement, “…shove it up your butt.” Followed by the author stating, “Lol. I can’t believe you fell for that. Did you really think there was going to be an introduction for this project? Everything you need to know is in the title and subtitle. It is, quite literally and exactly, ten illustrated essays about ‘The Office’, one of the very greatest television shows of ever.”
The author’s playfulness in the introduction sets the tone for the book’s triumphs and downfalls. The most significant accomplishment is its creative, comprehensive, and in-depth understanding of The Office, yet its downfall is its redundant nature.
Let’s begin on the positive side; the author’s tone echoes that of the show itself. Serrano never takes his writing too seriously. In his in-depth basketball stats for office characters in “Meeting 1: The Basketball Scouting Report,” his tone is lively. The sense that, like the writers of the show, it would be a mistake to take anything too seriously when discussing a paper company is apparent in the sarcasm throughout the book.
Like a basketball reporter, Serrano researches age, height, best attribute, and worst attribute. This is not necessary information to love the show, but it’s what adds to the comprehensive component of the book.
Knowing that Dwight Schrute is 39 years old, 6’2 in height and that his worst basketball attribute is, “A blind devotion to Michael Scott skews his basketball vision” does not add to the overall understanding of his character throughout the series. Still, it is nice to know for the avid “The Office” fans.
The silver lining, even in the needlessness, echoes that of As Seen on TV products. Sure, nobody needs “Litie Laces,” shoelaces that light up, but it is remarkable that you can own a pair for the small price of $9.99. Similarly, The Office speaks for itself as a worldwide loved comedy show, but reading this book does not add necessary components; it is cool and fun to read, though.
Serrano’s creativity in writing the book must also be applauded. Page after page of illustrations and episode analysis takes the average “The Office” fan to a new level. In my humble opinion, the best example occurs on page 19, when we see Prison Mike in a jail cell with a “Dementor” from the Harry Potter series. In the show, a Dementor is never shown but mentioned; in the illustration, we get a picture of what that would have looked like.
These elements from the book add to the love fans have for the show, as the book itself symbolically stands as a written and visual love letter to the creators of “The Office.” However, the only reason that I would recommend this book would be if a fan missed watching the show on Netflix. Since NBC started its own streaming service, Peacock, “The Office” has only been available for streaming (or you could do something crazy like purchase the entire series on Amazon Prime for the whopping price of $138). If a fan didn’t want to get a subscription to a new service to watch the show, then I’d recommend the book by Serrano. That said, there is absolutely nothing like watching the comedic gold of Micheal Scott for yourself.
Stream “The Office” on Peacock, or read “Conference Room, Five Minutes” and decide for yourself. Either way, you’ll be spending time with some of the world’s most loved characters.
The Beat @APU 