This is a curious missive. In one way it feels about 30 years too late – it was back in the ’90s when corporate doublespeak started to take off, so why now?
The reason is twofold: the self-important ways we speak in the modern workplace is always easy targets, and we need constant reminding that we risk (as the authors assert) sounding like w*nkers.

It’s also constantly evolving. Just like in politics, the bulls*t remains – and this book contains countless examples, from ‘reach out’ rather than ‘ring’ to ‘get alignment’ rather than ‘get everyone to agree’.

It’s structured between self-help book and management coursework, making it easy to digest. It’s something of a meta-comment on the culture it’s taking aim at.

Some of the humour’s obtuse, raising a smile but you’ll occasionally laugh out loud. Some is as insightful as it is cutting.

Schloeffel is behind satirical media outlet The Shovel, and Firth is a founding member of The Chaser, and they’ve perhaps unwittingly made W*nkernomics a call to arms to remind us about our national character. When the world is increasingly digitally connected and we’re constantly exposed to the way the dominant cultures in the world behave in day-to-day life, it’s easy to forget how as a country we’re more about getting things done without pomp, pageantry or the need to invent cool new terms that just make you sound like a w*nker.

Reviewed by Drew Turney

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Wankernomics founders James Schloeffel and Charles Firth are two of the country’s most accomplished comedy writers and performers, known for their unique brand of biting satire and observational comedy. James is the brains behind The Shovel, one of Australia’s leading satire outlets. He’s also written for The Guardian, The Sydney Morning Herald, the Australian Financial Review and The Independent.

Charles is a co-founder of the Australian satirical comedy group, The Chaser, and has worked in television, radio and publishing for 25 years. He is author of the bestselling book American Hoax and is co-creator of Optics (ABC TV). James and Charles founded Wankernomics in 2023 as a way to help ordinary people navigate the modern workplace.

Read more about the book.