So, you’re a die-hard fan of The Office, and you’ve binged every episode so many times that you can quote Dwight’s nonsense verbatim. But have you ever wondered what the cast did when they were not busy (fictitiously) selling paper? Turns out, a lot of them wrote books — because apparently being on one of the greatest sitcoms of all time wasn’t enough. From memoirs to kids’ books to soul-searching manifestos… Here’s a roundup of books written by The Office cast members.
| Title | Author | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) | Mindy Kaling | A witty memoir about Kaling’s journey in Hollywood, her childhood, and relationships. |
| Why Not Me? | Mindy Kaling | A follow-up memoir delving into Kaling’s personal and professional life with humor and honesty. |
| The Book with No Pictures | B.J. Novak | A playful children’s book that proves you don’t need pictures to make kids laugh. (Lots of silly words and colorful fonts!) |
| One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories | B.J. Novak | A collection of humorous and absurd short stories showcasing Novak’s storytelling. Weird. And funny. |
| Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution | Rainn Wilson | Wilson explores the potential for a spiritual revolution to address societal challenges, drawing on his personal faith and insights. |
| The Bassoon King: My Life in Art, Faith, and Idiocy | Rainn Wilson | A memoir sharing Wilson’s unconventional upbringing, spiritual journey, and acting career. |
| The Actor’s Life: A Survival Guide | Jenna Fischer | A practical guide for aspiring actors, with personal anecdotes from Fischer’s career. |
| The Office BFFs: Tales of The Office from Two Best Friends Who Were There | Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey | Behind-the-scenes stories from “The Office,” showcasing Fischer and Kinsey’s real-life friendship. (They really are BFFs.) |
| My Squirrel Days | Ellie Kemper | A collection of humorous essays about Kemper’s life, from her childhood to her acting career, including her time on “The Office.” |
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1. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) – Mindy Kaling
- Author: Mindy Kaling
- Character played on the Office: Kelly Kapoor — Customer Service Representative
Mindy Kaling reflects on her rise from awkward theater nerd to sitcom writer and star. She shares stories about her childhood, friendships, and Hollywood misadventures. It’s basically like having coffee with your funniest friend — if your friend were a TV icon.
2. Why Not Me? – Mindy Kaling
- Author: Mindy Kaling
- Character played on the Office: Kelly Kapoor — Customer Service Representative
In her second book, Kaling dishes on her dating life, career highs and lows, body image, and confidence. She balances sharp humor with heartfelt moments that make you wonder how she’s so relatable and glamorous at the same time. If you’re not rooting for her by the end, check your soul for cracks.
3. The Book with No Pictures – B.J. Novak
A children’s book without pictures sounds like a recipe for disaster, but Novak proves otherwise. (Hint: varied FONT sizes and COLORS can make a big impact.) It’s packed with silly words and ridiculous phrases designed to make kids giggle uncontrollably. Bonus: it’s a hit with parents who are tired of reading the same stupid picture books 500 times.
- Author: B.J. Novak
- Character played on the Office: Ryan Howard — Temp, Sales Representative, VP of Northeast Sales
4. One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories – B.J. Novak
Novak’s short stories are a blend of clever, bizarre, and profound. He tackles everything from a rematch between a tortoise and a hare to the existential crisis of a one-night stand. In many ways, it’s the literary equivalent of The Office — smart, funny, and occasionally uncomfortably awkward.
- Author: B.J. Novak
- Character played on the Office: Ryan Howard — Temp, Sales Representative, VP of Northeast Sales
5. Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution – Rainn Wilson
- Author: Rainn Wilson
- Character played on the Office: Dwight Schrute — Sales Representative, Assistant (to the) Regional Manager
In this thought-provoking book, Wilson argues that a little more spirituality could go a long way in solving the world’s problems. It’s part self-help, part social commentary, and entirely Rainn. If Dwight Schrute wrote a manifesto, this might be it — minus the bears, beats and Battlestar Galactica references.
6. The Bassoon King: My Life in Art, Faith, and Idiocy – Rainn Wilson
- Author: Rainn Wilson
- Character played on the Office: Dwight Schrute — Sales Representative, Assistant (to the) Regional Manager
Wilson’s memoir dives into his offbeat childhood, spiritual journey, and the wild ride that was The Office. He somehow makes bassoons, Baha’i faith, and beet farming sound equally fascinating. It’s a delightfully weird look at one of TV’s quirkiest actors.
7. The Actor’s Life: A Survival Guide – Jenna Fischer
Jenna Fischer tells it like it is for aspiring actors, pulling no punches about the struggles of Hollywood. She shares practical tips, awkward audition stories, and the reality of balancing dreams with paying the rent. Whether you’re chasing stardom or just curious about the grind, this guide is equal parts helpful and humorous.
- Author: Jenna Fischer
- Character played on the Office: Pam Beesly — Receptionist, Sales Representative
8. The Office BFFs: Tales of The Office from Two Best Friends Who Were There – Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey
- Author: Jenna Fischer
- Character played on the Office: Pam Beesly — Receptionist, Sales Representative
- Author: Angela Kinsey
- Character played on the Office: Angela Martin — Senior Accountant
This book is a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes moments from The Office, told by its two biggest cheerleaders. Fischer and Kinsey share funny, sweet, and occasionally cringey stories about their time on set. It’s a love letter to the show and their friendship. (This is the best “behind-the-scenes” book in the list! If you want straight Office dirt – start here!)
9. My Squirrel Days – Ellie Kemper
- Author: Ellie Kemper
- Character played on the Office: Erin Hannon — Receptionist
My personal favorite in this entire list! Ellie Kemper’s essays reveal her journey from St. Louis kid to TV star, with plenty of hilarity along the way. Whether she’s accidentally creating chaos or trying to keep it together on set, she’s always charmingly awkward. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be an actual ray of sunshine in human form, this book has your answer.
Conclusion: 9 Books Written by The Office Cast Members
So, there you have it — a collection of books from the people who made Scranton, PA, the center of your sitcom universe. I wasn’t even necessarily a fan of The Office during its original TV run. Until I stumbled onto several of these books. A little late to the game, but I became a fan of Rainn Wilson, Ellie Kemper, Jenna Fischer and the rest of the gang. Now I’m binging all 9 seasons!
Whether you’re looking for hilarious memoirs, behind-the-scenes dirt, or a call for a spiritual revolution (Rainn Wilson), these reads prove that the cast of The Office is just as talented off-screen as they are on it. Who knew the people behind your favorite paper-pushers could moonlight as authors? Now, go read one of these books…or just rewatch The Office with me again. Your call.
Did I miss any? Let me know in the comments. I’d love to read and to add to this list!
Scott Johnson is a Midwestern humorist, author of Essays Out of Left Field, and the mind behind scottjohnsonauthor.com. He’s also a husband, dad of three, and Data Systems Administrator (whatever that is). Scott is on a mission to find and read all the funny books. He shares his thoughts on those books, author life, and other delightful randomness with his readers on his website.
