Work, Figuratively Speaking ─ The Big Setbacks and Little Victories of Office Life

A bittersweet, comic rendering of everyday office life in miniature, based on the popular Instagram Figuratively Speaking. Using only his iPhone, his desk lamp, and his expansive collection of miniatures, Derrick Lin re-creates the everyday ups and downs of office life.

His Instagram, which grew out of an in-office creative challenge, took shape in 2014 and has been expanding steadily since. In intricately staged tableaus that are by turns laugh-out-loud funny or gently philosophical, Lin manages to capture the pains and pleasures of modern office life, from the joy of an unexpectedly slow day to a boozy office birthday party, a backstabbing colleague, and the agony of waiting on a new freelance gig. Even difficult moments are shown in a way that makes them lighter, more relatable, and unexpectedly funny. 

Universally appealing, this book will resonate with anyone who has ever held down an office job—from those sitting down at their first desk to cubicle veterans—making it the perfect gift for college grads, a best office friend, or a retiring colleague.

Born in Taiwan, Derrick Lin is a senior digital-marketing strategist. Lin’s Instagram feed (@marsder) has received international coverage, and he has created original images for such partners as Entertainment Weekly, Disney, and Chipotle.