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# The Perils of Jargon and Excessive E-Mail
- URL: https://www.philsimon.com/the-perils-of-jargon-and-excessive-e-mail/
- Published: 2016-01-11T17:00:52.000Z
- Updated: 2025-07-04T21:28:55.000Z
- Description: My Interview with Josh Bernoff on Message Not Received.
- Author: Phil Simon
- Tags: Communication, Interviews, Email, Jargon, Message Not Received

A few months ago, I stumbled across Josh Bernoff's excellent blog [Without Bullshit](https://www.withoutbullshit.com/blog/?ref=philsimon.com). Josh writes frequently about a subject near and dear to my heart: the prevalence and inimical effects of [jargon](https://www.philsimon.com/tag/jargon/).

Needless to say, we hit it off.

![](https://i.imgur.com/4KI8jxF.jpg)

Josh recently interviewed me about my most recent book *Message Not Received*. I've done probably 30 interviews since the book hit the shelves last March, but his questions were particularly astute:

- Your main point is that most business communication does not work. Explain what you mean by that.
- You and I agree that most workers these days are overwhelmed with information. What's your evidence? And if you're right, what does that mean for the work they do?
- You may be the most intrepid jargon fighter out there. Why do you think there is so much jargon in our workplace communication?
- What jargon have you noticed lately that's especially pernicious?
- E-mail is basically the circulatory system of most organizations. Everything flows through it. And yet, you say it's not a good tool for collaboration or efficiency. What's wrong, and how should we fix it?
- You're a fan of inbox zero. I just let it all flow by me—my inbox is where I find whatever I need. What's wrong with my strategy?
- What's the worst sentence you've ever read in a business setting? And how would you reword it?
- Since you published your book, have you seen any hopeful signs that the world is getting better?

To read my hopefully informative answers, click [here](https://withoutbullshit.com/blog/interview-with-phil-simon-author-of-message-not-received/?ref=philsimon.com).