Tales of The Office from Two Best Friends Who Were There

Authors: Jenna Fischer & Angela Kinsey

Both Fischer & Kinsey are multi-hyphenates including actors, authors and podcast hosts. As the name indicates the authors are most well-known for the NBC sitcom The Office which ran from 2005 – 2013. The two wrote the book as a personal recollection of their time on the series and the people that made it happen.

Synopsis

All great legends have a great origin story and this book spends quite a bit of time unpacking how ‘The Office‘ cast came to be assembled, and who was responsible for the many elements that helped get it to air including: writers, producers, the background staff of makeup artists, hairdressers, stylists, producers, and even the caterer.

Both authors take the time to reflect on the characters they played as well their respective love interests from the show. Obviously to Office fans the characters of Pam and Jim were central to the overall story of the office, but Angela and Dwight though seconds players, get there due as a mismatched but tonally-perfect duo.

But the book doesn’t just dwell on the past. It concludes by giving readers a look at the present day, including the production of the very book they wrote. So if you’re a fan of The Office and want to know more about the show’s origin story and the people behind it, this book is a must-read.

Most interesting finding

Sprinkle the cat, whose death as all true Office fans know caused the breakup of Dwight and Angela, was the invention of Fisher! In one scene as she was doing background work she made a doodle inviting the office to Sprinkles the cat’s third birthday. Thus the infamous cat was born.

Is it worth your time

‘The Office BFFs’ was co-written by Fisher and Kinsey, a fact that is well apparent while reading the book. Unlike many collaborations, the authors wrote their own sections that are clearly labeled. As befitting podcast hosts, the style comes across as a conversation between two obviously familiar friends. It begins with a hug and the folksiness stemming from their Midwest and Southern upbringing is clear throughout. 

While the book does get bogged down in details at times (did we really need to know the name of the show’s caterer?) on the whole, both authors keep it classy. They don’t name names, instead choosing to tell on themselves and not other people. However, this does give the distinct impression that the most scandalous revelations may have been left on the editing floor.

The most poignant sections of the book are when the authors are open and honest about their own feelings, not over-editing in an attempt to be polite. For example, Jenna Fisher gives a touching account of how she was not offered parental leave as part of her employment contract, meaning she had to go back to work just five weeks after delivering her first child. This cost her family 1/3 of their annual income and is one of the most revealing sections of the book.

For Office fans, the book offers a compelling oral history of the show’s early days as it was becoming a cultural phenomenon. It’s a testament to an enduring friendship as Fisher and Kinsey have become wives, mothers, and business owners. And for completionists, it’s a great companion to the authors’ podcast, “The Office Ladies”.

Photo Credit: Harper Collins