Why people recommend it
Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris is a sharply observed, darkly comic novel that chronicles the final days of a failing Chicago advertising agency through the collective voice of its anxious employees. The book received attention on The Book Review in July 2024 during an episode titled The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century, where Scott Heller lamented that although the novel had been discussed during deliberations for a humor-focused list, he wished it had made the final cut for the overall top books ranking. Later, in an episode titled Books That Make Our Critics Laugh, Gilbert Cruz also brought up Ferris's novel, citing it naturally during a conversation centered on books that explore the absurdities of the modern corporate workplace. Both critics praised the novel's distinctive narrative perspective and its uncanny ability to capture office culture, professional paranoia, and camaraderie with razor-sharp wit. These podcast discussions emphasized that Ferris's debut remains a standout achievement in contemporary satirical fiction, celebrated as much for its innovative use of the first-person plural point of view as for its hilarious and painfully accurate portrayal of white-collar professional life during moments of economic and organizational decline.
Who recommended it
- Gilbert Cruz Discussed
- Scott Heller Recommended
Gilbert Cruz — 1 mention
“then we came to the end yes by Joshua Ferris”
Scott Heller — 1 mention
“Scott we were talking about funny before and one of the funniest books that was on the other list and I wish it was on this one is then we came to the End by Joshua Ferris”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
- A Confederacy of Dunces
- A far cry from Kensington
- Airships
- American Psycho
- Bridget Jones's Diary
- Demon Copperhead
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
“he's the author of four books three of them novels then we came to the end the named and to rise again at a decent hour a collection of Stories the dinner party and his latest novel a calling for Charlie Barnes”