Interviewing actors, writers, directors, producers, and anyone associated with creating and developing the series The Office, Greene presents a chronological oral history of the sitcom. Outlining the key elements, hurdles, and goals of each season, the author also highlights key episodes within these seasons. I especially loved the writers’ insights into their artistic choices, and what choices we never saw on screen.

Development and timing of the relationship between Jim and Pam is a constant theme in the discussion. Making sure they did not move it forward to quickly, creating tension and unsatisfied yearning as long as reasonably possible made many viewers happy. Writers and actors followed social media very closely, getting a read on how their plot choices were received in near real time. Evolution of the character Michael Scott was considered the most important feature of the series, striking the right balance between jerk and buffoon, not to much of a dick, but more childlike and having a heart. Once they established Michael, writers could slowly mature him, until his season seven exit, to marry Holly, move to Colorado, and start a family, his greatest dream come true. The character of Dwight Schrute was largely developed by the actor Rainn Wilson, who had a keen sense of the power-idolizing, non-self aware buffoon, with his martial arts, science fiction, police, and other obsessions. Writers added the Amish-flavored beet farm, Germanic heritage, with hints of Nazism.

Secondary characters began as office background fillers, but quickly these talented actors developed their own relationships and story lines. Writers B.J. Novak and Mindy Kaling were secondary characters Ryan Howard and Kelly Kapoor, engaged in a neurotic on again, off again relationship. Every background character carried plot lines forward significantly, not merely reacting to the leads, as is the norm in traditional sitcoms. The entire framework was unique, a mock documentary, a study of office life in a small Pennsylvania company, filmed in a scrupulously faithful way. The elimination of a laugh track was ground breaking, and quickly became the norm.

If you love to learn about the inside story of impressive creative work, especially collaborative creativity such as this achievement, this is the book for you. I love reading about the creative process, made even more interesting when so many layers of collaboration and just dumb luck must come together to make a big product possible. Not only that, but to have consistently high quality over nine seasons is an incredible accomplishment. A must read for Office fans, and “that’s what she said.”