PERHAPS YOU LIVE under a rock, don’t own a television, forgo all newspapers and radio stations, forsake the internet and never speak to other people. In that case, you may not know the corporate world is full of greed, misanthropy, megalomania and downright ruthless cretins.
On the other hand, if you are not a sightless mole cloistered in a subterraneous world and actually engage with the media, you have probably heard something about the recent raft of Royal Commissions. In one particular Royal Commission, a bunch of extremely well-paid and extremely busy people have been digging through the dung heaps of financial institutions and insurance companies to reveal a rather sordid bunch of callous money-grubbers.
Coincidently, habituated wheeler-dealers serve as the basis of the principal characters in Matthew Simon’s newest contribution to Australian literature ‘Dancing With The Bull’. This satirical tale about the machinations that abound within the corporate world are based on Simon’s personal experience of life on the other side of the smokescreen. Although not overtly biographical, this fast-paced tale exudes authenticity. Importantly, Simon takes aim at no particular corporation. He tries to hit no particular personal figure. Instead, he satirises his targets in a devilish form of literary shorthand.
This well-crafted tale begins when the protagonist falls from the top of the corporate dung heap. In his quest for employment, Luke Glass encounters a mysterious offer that promises a fresh start. Back in the natural environment of the Master of the Universe, once again, he rises up the corporate dung heap. From a position above his colleagues, he sees how powerful people create the illusion of peace and stability. But as the corporate world order starts to unravel, he finds himself forced to question his role in “The Organisation”.
Simon creates a strong narrative that quickly progresses as the protagonist asserts himself back where he believes he belongs. Through lean prose told in the first person, we meet a sparkling cast of characters recounted in a way that is possibly unique within the canon of Australian, English, even world literature. Count among the cast, two unforgettable dogs whose thoughts and sideplay provoke important reflections by the main character.
And beware the simmering suspense — polished prose carries the story forward at breakneck speed while tension slowly rises as the antagonist and his off-sider, lurking in the shadows, cast small pebbles into the lake which cause awkward ripples to spread out across the world around them.
With a veritable minimalist approach to description and characterisation, Simon deftly fleshes out the beats of his plot. Despite the pace of the plot and a fat-free diet of words, the major characters are well-developed and justly motivated. Albeit within the rigorous confines of a novella, Simon’s subplots, seamlessly woven into the primary tapestry, provide important character insights and lead to clever plot twists. With masterly writing, Simon grafts onto a classic narrative structure a clever combination of allusion, wit and intrigue.
Set in no particular geographic location, this universal story will appeal to a wide audience. A character-driven story packed with entertainment and humour that fly off the page with alacrity. A text crammed full of wordcraft and soaked in authorial sweat. A simple and straightforward text that poses provocative questions. One might even call this a sublime text. Simon certainly offers his readers a genuinely new literary voice. Rich in wordplay and irony, ‘Dancing With The Bull’ represents a clever blend of literary elements that carves out a place for itself in the genre of self-realisation.
The personification of characters throughout the book is both amusing for the reader as well as informative. Cast names of the characters are the very trait they personify. This uncommon technique assists us to see the stereotypes and is an ingenious method of providing character development.
Luke Glass is the main character; his personality and professional role loosely based on Matthew Simon’s career in companies such as Merrill Lynch, JP Morgan, National Australia Bank and Standard Chartered. For twenty-five years, Matthew worked in the banking industry and at the age of fifty, he left the corporate world after losing faith in the system.
The novel is immediately playful as he describes the events of unexpectedly losing his job as Master of the Universe to become an insufferable Manager of Household Duties. As luck would have it, he eventually finds another job, only to realise that the time away from work has made him a different person. The time off and the inward self-reflections triggered by the phantasm Manifesto, are the seeds that evoke discomfort in Luke Glass carrying out his regular occupation.
At work, the Font of All Knowledge, the Stooge, the Jackal and, the Very Busy People are bothersome to him each in their own way. For those that have worked in banking, it is amusing to note that all of them exist in this realm. Matthew Simon’s satire on the banking world is so uncannily accurate it is almost disheartening.
Each chapter, aptly titled with one keyword, give an indication to the events that are to unfold, from the first chapter of denial to truth to redemption, normality, crisis, anger, and exhaustion, it eventually ends with Manifesto’s Test.
The book is not set in the current era of technology however. It is set at a time where illusions are important and a financial crisis has occurred. Even for those that have not worked in the sector, the satirical nature of the book will no doubt provide many a chuckle.
Anyone who has ever worked in a large corporation should read this book. No doubt you will see similarities. Perhaps, you will be challenged. You should be, because “You choose the bulls with whom you dance”.
Press Clip| May 2019, Edition
While on one level it talks a lot about the industry and how soulless it can be, on another it taps into what many people go through when they hang their identity off their employment.
Punt Road End – Books and good reads
Fantastic book about a fictional banker, Luke Glass, who is “let go” to spend more time with his family. Without a job he struggles with his identity and pisses the family off. He eventually finds another job, only to find it’s the same sh**t in a different bucket. But will he make the same mistakes?
Very Very Important People, Frank and Honest Conversations, Team Building, Corporate Melancholy, Humour, Break out Areas
Excellent scene where he hears back from a job interview….. “I have great news for you Luke, you came second”…..
If you’ve ever lost a job, read this book.
Format: Softcover| Verified Reader (Lizzy Street Library)
As Matthew Simon says: “a book never finishes; it just stops”. This book has continued to leave me with much to wonder about.
Format: Softcover| Verified Purchase
Format: Softcover|Verified Purchase
A witty insight into the games that are played inside large corporations. Underneath the humour, there are some distilled truths about people, power, and politics to reflect on. A very enjoyable read.
Format: Softcover|Verified Purchase
Dancing with the Bull made me laugh out loud! I knew every single character in the book and the games they played. A great insight into corporate behaviour and also why we should question our reasons for working in big corporations rather than following our heart and our dreams…A fine man once said that no-one on his deathbed ever wished they had spent more time at the office.
Loved the book, didn’t put it down. One day effort & finished in the wee hours.
By Dr. Derek Ambrose – January 30, 2018
Format: Softcover| Verified Purchase
Dancing with the Bull, what a delight! A word by word exciting description of the journey of an entrusted soul, who trusted the system, only to be laid bare on the Dance Floor, without dignity, without cause and again by those in servitude of the almighty dollar. Matt’s account of Luke’s ordeal is played out on every page, down to the detail, you could feel the excruciating personal pain, loss of position, the desperate search for reasoning, logic that was never to be played out, kindness, loyalty never to be seen, as demonstrated later in this epic journey by the “Font”. Luke’s encounters with the very very busy people and the Jackal real-life life encounters, experienced every day by the poor real workers led by the pathetic creatures that call themselves leaders. I couldn’t help thinking as I was reading that the sequel could easily be, “Will the Real Leaders Please Stand Up,” such was the journey I was taken on. I was able to live and smell the characters, and the revelations of Manifesto being the distant but constant alter of wisdom that Luke so desperately needed. Manifesto’s timing and intervention were perfectly scripted allowing the reader to sense that logic was on its way to assist. This book is well written and a tribute to the author who in a modest way invites you into the cause takes you through the pain, and personal indignation. I have since recommended it as a must read several times in the past month. Great work Matt and thanks for the Dance, although I must admit I was exhausted at the completion of the dance!!
By Martin Whiteley on Linkedin
Like a modern-day Dostoyevsky, this book contains Matt’s notes from the underground. All these very busy people (most likely middle-aged, white Anglo-Saxon men), doing what we wonder. We never find out, but it’s unlikely to be for the greater good. In this case, the hero doesn’t know whether to withdraw from it all or play the game. “It is indeed possible, and sometimes positively imperative, to act directly contrary to one’s own best interests. One’s own free and unfettered volition, however wild, is the one best and greatest good.” Stand up, stand out, get out.
By JamesMac53 on February 3, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
Great read and concept. Highlights what happens in the big end of town and how driven it all is.
By Stephen Duchesne – 24 January 2018
Format: Softcover| Verified Purchase
“Dancing with the Bull is a modern day Machiavelli’s The Prince set in everyone’s’ large corporate employer. Simon cuts through the redundant layers and didactically maneuvers Luke Glass through the political minefields of the corporate world. There’s a bit of Jackal, Stooge, and Font of All Knowledge in all of us, and we’ve all answered the question “How’s work?” with “Busy….very busy”, because we know that’s what we need to be. Remember you only stop dancing when the Bull wants to, not when you want to.”
Dancing with the Bull also reminded of Charlie Prince’s quote from Citi just before the GFC – it came back to haunt him as you would expect !!!
“As long as the music is playing, you’ve got to get up and dance,” he said. “We’re still dancing.” – Charles Prince, President & CEO of Citigroup, 2007
By David Lockwood on Linkedin
Great read. Having worked in major corporates, Dancing with the Bull rang a lot of bells; whilst Luke’s journey is a challenging and stimulating story of what confronts employees in regards to their own ethics and how they interact with the teams you need to work with, your story resonated with me that alignment is certainly a “must have” outcome…and some of the difficulties organisations have in achieving this.
By Greg Lee on Linkedin
If you think this is a book about the financial markets, think again. . . have a read … More about the people in business we love to hate and the laughable actions they take. You will find yourself rye smiling . . . perhaps even laughing at yourself. Great quick read, rolling in thoughts injected by the story.
Matthew Simon’s debut novel is an intriguing and entertaining parable about corporate life, set in the context of the Global Financial crisis ten years ago.
If you, like me, have been in business over recent decades, you will recognise many of the characters: the evil corporate overlord Jackal, the all-seeing Font of all Knowledge and the protagonist Luke, trying to find his way through the corporate political jungle, haunted by the shady puppet-master Manifesto who appears throughout the book, trying to help Luke see his role for what it is. The narrative is unusual, written in a quirky, entertaining style, funny and ultimate thought-provoking… Why do we do what we do at work, does it matter, and what is the real purpose of those off-sites and away-days. Setting a new course or creating a smokescreen and illusion for the “Extremely Busy People” to keep us where they want us!
It made me laugh out loud a number of times as I contemplate my own planned away, day, my new corporate change program and all of the business of big corporate life we take so very seriously.
Dancing with the Bull asks us to reconsider our self-important roles as masters of the universe, asks us to reflect on our true-life purpose in a quirky, funny and entertaining style. Luke is dragged through the narrative by his two crazy dogs, a patient family who want anything but a stay-at-home dad between jobs, and a constant nagging doubt about his true purpose.
5.0 out of 5 stars if you’ve ever been 50 and unemployed …
By ron.dunn on 14 November 2017
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
… or you’ve ever worked with snakes in suits … or you’ve ever wondered “Is this all there is?” … then read this story of one man’s journey through the double talk and darkness of modern executive life and find that you’re not alone. Looking forward to the sequel.
★★★★★ Insightful and Funny
By Intra Muscular Fat – November 7, 2017
An insightful and funny look at the more absurd aspects of Corporate Culture. A good laugh with some food for thought along the way…Highly recommended for anyone who has worked for big business.
Format: iTunes Edition
By Rod Birkett – January 2, 2018
Format: Softcover| Verified Purchase
Dancing With The Bull was the classic ‘page turner’ which I read through in just two sittings.
There are some fascinating insights in the book from Matthew and he has brought to life characters that I certainly recognize from my work experience, most notably the Jackal…….the description of whom almost makes you shiver with memories of the type of character Matthew is referring to! I would highly recommend the book to anybody who is looking for a light-hearted insight into corporate life.
By Dhakshi Ravishankar on Linkedin
Absolutely enjoyed the read, Matt Simon. Thank you. Hilarious at the least, thought-provoking if you cared enough … some closure if you once were naive!
By Sue Stroud on Linkedin
Very clever and very funny. I loved it!
By Scott Finn – December 20, 2017
Format: Softcover| Verified Purchase
I read Dancing with the Bull in two sittings. (A miracle for me given the number of distractions we all have these days).
1st read feedback:
Loved the easy to read format (font, sizing, and spacing) The character descriptions were spot on (and very relatable) “The Fount of Knowledge, Stooge, Jackal and busy busy busy person(s). Further, in amongst the personal, professional and ethical challenges, I really enjoyed the addition of the constant struggles with controlling the cheeky pet dogs – It really tied in well and gave a sense of reality away from the ‘game’. The book and Luke’s journey really did take me through a range of emotions and evoked plenty of personal reflections.
I will have more feedback after the 2nd read!
