In times of unparalleled global tumult, a deadly pandemic that makes a simple breath of air potentially deadly, no gathering place could be more fraught with fear, loathing and frenzy than the workplace itself. In Susan Tepper's satirical novel, "Office," lives and careers crash amidst the chaos, albeit from six feet apart. The result is a zany, hilarious yet insightful study of stressed-out humanity trying to cope with conditions that are essentiallyincomprehensible. It's a rollercoaster of a commute. - Harvey Araton, former New York Times columnist and best-selling author