Bottom of the Food Chain

I wasn't sure what to think when I started reading this book. The desire not to dwell on the times I've been at the “bottom of the food chain” was strong as I started to listen. (I was gifted a copy of the audiobook by the author, and this review is entirely voluntary.) But most of us have been on the bottom of the food chain, and thinking about the perspective this book brings to positions in the workplace that are “on the bottom“ ended up surprising me. This book was in turns soothing and nurturing for me, and sometimes even inspiring.

Now, if you do zoom the lens back and take this book in context with the larger problems wrought by a ruthless capitalist economy, you start to wonder if the principles that uplift these bottom-rung workers might feel enabling. That's what happens when you reduce a position to just what it pays, though. And this book is all about broadening that narrow perspective of worth based on wealth and power.

What I loved about this book was that if you take it as a blueprint for making the most out of a situation that isn't always the most comfortable, you get practical and real action steps to finding confidence and satisfaction in your workplace. The grim realities of the biological food chain aside, the workplace is one where we modern-day humans spend a large portion of our lives. Learning how to generate respect from others, and most importantly, self-respect in that environment is likely one of the keys to our happiness. We are a species that thrives on periods of productivity and periods of rest. And this book gives us tools to make our time in productivity mode more satisfying, more meaningful, more generative, and more impactful to the people around us. And because we are social creatures, that impact on our peers and colleagues, and even on our supervisors and the very organizational structures that we find ourselves in, can make us feel more invigorated and motivated to perform our role.

And most critically, recognizing this impact and our ability to maximize our impact, can have positive effects on our feelings of self-worth, knowing that we are doing our best.

I found particularly helpful the reflection questions posed at the end of each section. A lot of us can benefit from slowing down and thinking about what's important for us what our values are, and how we bring value to others in an intentional, self-appreciative way. Whether you're questioning if a vertical or lateral move is good for you, or you're simply trying to decide how to maximize your effectiveness and self-satisfaction in the place where you're currently working, this little book is the equivalent of a morning spent with a good cup of coffee in the quiet sunshine, by a garden of your own tending that has started to produce real seeds of wisdom and fruit. So approach this book as a meditation and enjoy where the journey takes you.