| Almost everyone has been fired from a job, | | | | Stories like these are worth the price of |
| and just about everyone has a story to go | | | | this book alone. |
| along with it. Annabelle Gurwitch, the actor | | | | |
| and screen writer, decided to capitalize on | | | | To round each story off, the book also |
| this fact by compiling and editing a | | | | includes "Fired Facts": brief and amusing |
| collection of humorous "down-sizing" stories | | | | factoids about being fired, and the workplace |
| in her book Fired! Tales of the Canned, | | | | in general. For example: "Increased risk of |
| Canceled, Downsized & Dismissed. After being | | | | heart attack faced by employer firing an |
| fired by the media icon (and consequently her | | | | employee in the week after wielding the ax: |
| idol) Woody Allen, Annabelle decided to take | | | | 100%". What a great way to end your career - |
| her story to the publishers- along with | | | | with your former boss in the hospital! |
| several other tales from well known actors | | | | |
| and media personal, including Bill Maher, Tim | | | | While Fired! Tales of the Canned, Canceled, |
| Allen, Tate Donovan (actor and director in | | | | Downsized & Dismissed is entertaining (being |
| The O.C.), Harry Shearer (actor in This is | | | | fired with the line "Take that hanger off |
| Spinal Tap), Dana Gould (writer for The | | | | your head, you idiot!" may be the best thing |
| Simpsons), Bob Saget and more. | | | | that has ever happened to me), it completely |
| | | | fails to connect with the reader. Each story |
| The book is divided into five chapters: The | | | | falls into one of two major camps: |
| Job So Terrible You Can Only Hope to Be | | | | meaningless high school jobs that no one |
| Fired, The Firing You Didn't See Coming, The | | | | regrets losing, and glamorous Hollywood jobs |
| Time You Deserved to be Fired, The Time | | | | that, while interesting, are entirely foreign |
| Getting Fired Leads You to Something Better, | | | | to the average reader. |
| and The Time You Had to Fire Yourself. Each | | | | |
| chapter is as witty as the last, and will | | | | In the introduction to this book, Annabelle |
| keep you reading and laughing through till | | | | Gurwitch concludes "So you were fired. |
| the next. And with over a dozen "tales of the | | | | Welcome to the club. We've been waiting for |
| canned" in each chapter, you will have plenty | | | | you." However, this book fails to present any |
| of laughing to enjoy. | | | | "club" you or I are ever likely to be a |
| | | | member of. While almost anyone can related |
| Many of the true stories found in this book | | | | with being fired from a job, the stories in |
| are so funny, they will have you laughing out | | | | this book are quite different from any |
| loud. The story of Paul Feig (director of | | | | workplace axing I have experienced. And |
| Arrested Development and The Office) losing | | | | unless you have felt the horror of losing a |
| his Ronald McDonald gig because of a magical | | | | job because your character was shot in the |
| comparison between a rubber chicken and | | | | last episode, you will probably be unable to |
| Chicken McNuggets he made to a group of | | | | relate as well. |
| school kids while wearing the clown suit will | | | | |
| probably remain with me for the rest of my | | | | If you are looking for a light, entertaining |
| life. In another favorite story, Jeff Garlin | | | | read to get you through the work week, I |
| (actor in Curb Your Enthusiasm) explains how | | | | would recommend Fired! Tales of the Canned, |
| he was fired for throwing a bowl of | | | | Canceled, Downsized & Dismissed. Though the |
| Fruity-Pebbles at a hotel wall... and all | | | | book will probably not help you reminisce |
| just because they stuck. Larry Charles | | | | about jobs long past, that may be for the |
| (writer for Senifeld) reminds us that Taxi | | | | best. What better way to forget about your |
| companies should never offer employment to a | | | | own "down-sizing" experiences that to hear |
| teen-age kid who has just acquired his | | | | the stories of a celebrity with their head on |
| license that very day; wrecking his cab | | | | the chopping block. |
| before he even got it out of the parking lot. | | | | |