I think too many people in the psychology profession are snobby when it comes to analyzing social science works adored by the general public. If the books or writers become too successful then they are dismissed as being "pop." This certainly has been the case with my peers in regards to the Dr. Richard Carlson "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" series. They could not be more wrong, however. This particular offering is a monograph of considerable value. Other than this primer, I had only read the original, "...and it's all small stuff", edition. I found that, while the majority of his observations might not strike one as pure genius, they are steeped in common sense and are quite insightful.The theme here is "you be the adult." Even if your co-workers are acting like a bunch of ignorant sixth graders, you must rise above it. You're better than that. You'll forgive, work, and move on. Office politics is a fleeting and shallow endeavor. Keep your eyes on what you want in life. Many of those around you will be forgotten in a few years time and there's no reason to obsess over their opinions. They don't matter and, while you should be as kind and friendly as is possible, your long-term goals and aspirations are what counts. With annoying and dominant co-workers, when you lose your temper you tranfer power to them and give them the satisfaction that they have been looking for. Being above the frey is the last thing they want, but that's exactly where you should be.One of my favorite things that Dr. Carlson argues is that being relaxed and comfortable is essential to job performance and productivity. Further, there is nothing lazy or shameful about being in a good mood while on the clock. Do you help the company or institution by walking around like a grump so people have to proofread continuously what they're about to say to you? Certainly not. The wisdom is this book is not complex but it's not something that you will automatically figure out on your own.Don't Sweat the Small Stuff at Work is written in the same style as his other texts. It is extremely reader friendly as it is small and fits into a coat pocket. There are 284 pages which are efficiently broke up into 100 chapters. It won't take long to read, but, if you're like me and have had lots of difficulties dealing with the emotional baggage of others during your career, you will savor it for a long while. Dr. Carlson did us a great service by examining this subject.