Japanese philosopher holds the keys to a happy work life. Or does he?

In the inaugural This Working Life Book Club we dissect a book that's a blockbusting best-seller in Asia, The Courage To Be Disliked by Japanese philosopher Ichiro Kishimi and writer Fumitake Koga.

Billed as a self-help book, it is a Socratic dialogue between a philosopher and a lost, rather angry young man. In it they explore the ideas of the 19th and 20th century Austrian psychologist Alfred Adler in attempt to help the young man find direction in life. Philosopher Patrick Stokes and entrepreneur Catherine Robson help Lisa Leong sort the guff from the gems and hear how Adler's principles can help us perform better at work.

If you want to communicate effectively with your work colleagues, try taking off your socks or throwing a dice and playing a board game.

If you want to communicate effectively with your work colleagues, try taking off your socks or throwing a dice and playing a board game.

Finding the silver lining in redundancy.

Finding the silver lining in redundancy.

There are four important people behind Yotam Ottolenghi's success. Together, they helped turn a risk-averse man into one of the world's most successful and best-known chefs.

There are four important people behind Yotam Ottolenghi's success. Together, they helped turn a risk-averse man into one of the world's most successful and best-known chefs.

A teenage Sarah Harden wanted to be just like Jana Wendt. But a business brain and a move to the US changed that plan, and now she runs Reese Witherspoon's media company.

A teenage Sarah Harden wanted to be just like Jana Wendt. But a business brain and a move to the US changed that plan, and now she runs Reese Witherspoon's media company.

Making sure workers feel safe to speak up is paramount to business success. The trouble is, too many leaders are still stuck on old-style dictatorial leadership that capitalises on fear.