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Currency
Simplexity
A twenty-eight-year-old entry-level worker at a design firm navigates the microaggressive corporate landscape in a quick and delicious satire by Kiley Reid, the New York Times bestselling author of Such a Fun Age.
Yumi Parr is the new project coordinator of a Manhattan design agency. Set apart from her coworkers by their race, salaries, alma maters, perfect teeth, and waistbands, Yumi bears their grunt work. After one microaggression too many, she decides to implement a change. Either senior white employees with their mouthfuls of wokespeak will comply or Yumi will learn a difficult lesson about the realities of modern business culture.
Kiley Reid’s Simplexity is part of Currency, a compounding collection of stories about wealth, class, competition, and collapse. If time is money, deposit here with interest. Read or listen in a single sitting.
Yumi Parr is the new project coordinator of a Manhattan design agency. Set apart from her coworkers by their race, salaries, alma maters, perfect teeth, and waistbands, Yumi bears their grunt work. After one microaggression too many, she decides to implement a change. Either senior white employees with their mouthfuls of wokespeak will comply or Yumi will learn a difficult lesson about the realities of modern business culture.
Kiley Reid’s Simplexity is part of Currency, a compounding collection of stories about wealth, class, competition, and collapse. If time is money, deposit here with interest. Read or listen in a single sitting.
34 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 25, 2021
315 people are currently reading
3841 people want to read
About the author
Kiley Reid
6 books5,203 followersKiley Reid (born 1984) is an American novelist. She is a recent graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop where she was the recipient of the Truman Capote Fellowship. She lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Such A Fun Age is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 197 reviews
January 20, 2024
I read Kiley Reid's debut, "Such a fun age" and really enjoyed it so when I saw she'd written a short story I was all for it.
This is an Audible original (short story) and is part of the "Currency" Collection of stories that feature; class, competition, and collapse.
This was one of those stories where I feel that the premise was good but the story ends up being mediocre. It hits some serious and important topics of workplace discrimination and racism. The story features Yumi Parr who works for an industrial design firm called, "Simplexity." There are many company perks and one of them involves company haircuts that she realizes are not being utilized by the black ladies. She begins to champion the cause and tries to make a change.
The story is short and vague. It makes you think how all the small injustices are always pushed aside for the bigger ones. There is no resolution to the story but perhaps this is what she wanted to show. A pretty good story but I was just expecting more.
This is an Audible original (short story) and is part of the "Currency" Collection of stories that feature; class, competition, and collapse.
This was one of those stories where I feel that the premise was good but the story ends up being mediocre. It hits some serious and important topics of workplace discrimination and racism. The story features Yumi Parr who works for an industrial design firm called, "Simplexity." There are many company perks and one of them involves company haircuts that she realizes are not being utilized by the black ladies. She begins to champion the cause and tries to make a change.
The story is short and vague. It makes you think how all the small injustices are always pushed aside for the bigger ones. There is no resolution to the story but perhaps this is what she wanted to show. A pretty good story but I was just expecting more.
August 4, 2021
kiley reid is officially an immediate yes for me.
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
March 11, 2021
Well written short story about office politics and bitchy co-workers that mistakenly think they can elevate their own positions by stepping on others.
August 16, 2023
4/5
Kiley Reid rašo dalykus, apie kuriuos aš nepagalvoju. Ir tada jaučiuosi tokia privilegijuota pinda, nes man niekada pagalvoti nereikėjo. Ir niekada nebuvau situacijoje, kur turiu rinktis savo kovas – nes juodaodžių įmonėje ir taip mažai, ir nes keliantys bangas yra nepatogūs. O dar jei tokių – mažuma... O kai tas bangas visgi pasirenki kelti, turi žinoti, kad verta. Ir kad pokytis – įmanomas. Žinoma, kad trumpas apsakymas tikrai neturi tokio emocinio ir literatūrinio užtaiso kaip kad „Such a fun age“ (beje, Lietuvoje taip ir praslydusi praktiškai nepastebėta, nors puiki, reikalinga, įdomi ir visaip kaip kitaip verta dėmesio), tačiau vis tiek pasakysiu, kad „priverčia susimąstyti“, nors ir labai tingiai tas skamba.
Kiley Reid mane labai žavi gebėjimu kalbėti be dramos. Apie gyvenimą stipriai paveikiančius, tačiau kasdieniškus dalykus. Kylančius nebūtinai iš pykčio ar sąmoningo rasizmo, priešiško nusistatymo. Dažnai tiesiog iš nežinojimo. Kartais iš ignorance. Kaip bebūtų – tai tikriausiai irgi tam tikras būdas rinktis savo kovas. Nerėkti, nes niekas tada nesiklauso. Ir tokiom baltom mergaitėm kaip aš atsargiai paaiškinti apie rasizmą.
Kiley Reid rašo dalykus, apie kuriuos aš nepagalvoju. Ir tada jaučiuosi tokia privilegijuota pinda, nes man niekada pagalvoti nereikėjo. Ir niekada nebuvau situacijoje, kur turiu rinktis savo kovas – nes juodaodžių įmonėje ir taip mažai, ir nes keliantys bangas yra nepatogūs. O dar jei tokių – mažuma... O kai tas bangas visgi pasirenki kelti, turi žinoti, kad verta. Ir kad pokytis – įmanomas. Žinoma, kad trumpas apsakymas tikrai neturi tokio emocinio ir literatūrinio užtaiso kaip kad „Such a fun age“ (beje, Lietuvoje taip ir praslydusi praktiškai nepastebėta, nors puiki, reikalinga, įdomi ir visaip kaip kitaip verta dėmesio), tačiau vis tiek pasakysiu, kad „priverčia susimąstyti“, nors ir labai tingiai tas skamba.
Kiley Reid mane labai žavi gebėjimu kalbėti be dramos. Apie gyvenimą stipriai paveikiančius, tačiau kasdieniškus dalykus. Kylančius nebūtinai iš pykčio ar sąmoningo rasizmo, priešiško nusistatymo. Dažnai tiesiog iš nežinojimo. Kartais iš ignorance. Kaip bebūtų – tai tikriausiai irgi tam tikras būdas rinktis savo kovas. Nerėkti, nes niekas tada nesiklauso. Ir tokiom baltom mergaitėm kaip aš atsargiai paaiškinti apie rasizmą.
April 28, 2021
Nobody, but nobody, writes awkward and uncomfortable conversations like Kiley Reid writes awkward and uncomfortable conversations.
I thought this was a brilliant short story centring on young women working at a fancy New York design firm, where office politics overlaps with race issues to create an awkward situation. Snappy dialogue and a perfectly formed short story.
I thought this was a brilliant short story centring on young women working at a fancy New York design firm, where office politics overlaps with race issues to create an awkward situation. Snappy dialogue and a perfectly formed short story.
March 4, 2021
Not a bad start to the series, if a bit subtle.
No over the top premises, but a highly identifiable character - you either know Yumi or are Yumi.
Pretty good !
No over the top premises, but a highly identifiable character - you either know Yumi or are Yumi.
Pretty good !
March 20, 2021
Wow this book is so timely especially with what’s going on in the Asian American and the black community right now.
November 16, 2024
My Rating: 1⭐️ very meh!!
This was only 34 pages but felt like it would never end. I didn’t particularly like any of the characters and it never really went anywhere.
It doesn’t make me want to read the others in this short story series. Others seemed to like it though so take my review with a grain of salt and check it out for yourself if you think it sounds like something you would like.
This was only 34 pages but felt like it would never end. I didn’t particularly like any of the characters and it never really went anywhere.
It doesn’t make me want to read the others in this short story series. Others seemed to like it though so take my review with a grain of salt and check it out for yourself if you think it sounds like something you would like.
February 26, 2021
O M G this was amazing
I listened to audio and Arden Cho killed it!
The story was 28yo Yumi Parr who is working in an office of a design firm called Simplexity who is grappling with micro aggressions and her own moral compass as she tries to right the wrongs and speaking out for her coworkers and herself.
She herself is a target of these racial imbalance in the office but more than that is the discrimination she feels from the way she looks, her position and many other issues.
Funny and oh so relatable. This satirical short speaks volumes.
Simply fantastic!
Listening Length: 1 hour and 6 minutes
Author: Kiley Reid
Narrator: Arden Cho
I listened to audio and Arden Cho killed it!
The story was 28yo Yumi Parr who is working in an office of a design firm called Simplexity who is grappling with micro aggressions and her own moral compass as she tries to right the wrongs and speaking out for her coworkers and herself.
She herself is a target of these racial imbalance in the office but more than that is the discrimination she feels from the way she looks, her position and many other issues.
Funny and oh so relatable. This satirical short speaks volumes.
Simply fantastic!
Listening Length: 1 hour and 6 minutes
Author: Kiley Reid
Narrator: Arden Cho
October 31, 2024
Entertaining workplace listening 🎶🔰
This kindle e-book novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account book one of seven
She is the new boss and the politics of the office is changing.
I would recommend this series and various authors to readers of relationships novel as 👍🔰. 2024👒
This kindle e-book novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account book one of seven
She is the new boss and the politics of the office is changing.
I would recommend this series and various authors to readers of relationships novel as 👍🔰. 2024👒
December 5, 2024
Equity
I confess to not totally getting this story, but it appeared that the main character, Yumi heard another employee say that Yumi’s job was to do **tch work. Then she noticed that the employee she overheard saying that was getting a trim and a blowout in place of a black employee who couldn’t use the service because she had braids.
Yumi doesn’t mind doing anything, but is upset that Paige is getting all the perks and someone to do her work. Three stars because I didn’t enjoy the outcome. Cliques annoy me.
I confess to not totally getting this story, but it appeared that the main character, Yumi heard another employee say that Yumi’s job was to do **tch work. Then she noticed that the employee she overheard saying that was getting a trim and a blowout in place of a black employee who couldn’t use the service because she had braids.
Yumi doesn’t mind doing anything, but is upset that Paige is getting all the perks and someone to do her work. Three stars because I didn’t enjoy the outcome. Cliques annoy me.
July 3, 2023
Yumi, as one of the handful of Asian Americans at Simplexity, feels the microaggressions rub against the non-white co-workers too much for her taste and decides to find a solution. The protagonist attempts to rectify the situation, but her good intentions fall flat because she can’t understand the “bigger picture.”
Reid attempts to alert the readers of the intersection and inherent collisions at play with workplace and diversity initiatives--they end up going awry for the only three Black employees at Simplicity. There is a level of oppression the Black women know they are experiencing, but Yumi is not yet observant to which one is less or more important to the Black women because she isn't Black and experiencing them.
Yumi, again has good intentions, but needs to learn the workplace culture a bit more. Racism and microaggressions are just not that simple.
3.5 stars
Reid attempts to alert the readers of the intersection and inherent collisions at play with workplace and diversity initiatives--they end up going awry for the only three Black employees at Simplicity. There is a level of oppression the Black women know they are experiencing, but Yumi is not yet observant to which one is less or more important to the Black women because she isn't Black and experiencing them.
Yumi, again has good intentions, but needs to learn the workplace culture a bit more. Racism and microaggressions are just not that simple.
3.5 stars
December 19, 2022
I... didn't get it?
June 3, 2021
When I picked up Simplexity, it felt like the short story I needed to transition between heavier reads that have been spending their time with me.
But when I did read it, I witnessed Reid writing about situations in the workspace that were vaguely familiar to what I've experienced.
Simplexity is a 30 page short story that follows Yumi and her job at Simplexity, a reputed design firm. Through the easy narration, we understand that Yumi and a few others aren't treated the same way the others were.
What was shocking was that the organization boasted a team dedicated to equal and diverse opportunities and the team worked hard to implement cultural reforms that would make it and equal space for all. But what was being done, was what the organization thought would create an equal workspace, built entirely from their point of view and managed to turn a blind ignorant eye to the obvious avenues to making it actually equal.
What was worse, was that when discrepancies were brought to their attention, they made it even more horrid by completely ignoring what the person had to say and doing something completely irrelevant because they thought it would resolve said discrepancy.
It really does get you thinking about the idea of equal opportunities was something forced into the minds of these people or a marketing gimmick that puts themselves in a postive light. Kinda like a pat on your own shoulder for doing something that you think is right but in reality it was only partially right.
The story offers no proper resolution as such but is written, in my opinion, as a means through which people can have their eyes opened and consider others of the different sex, caste, color, race as humans, equals and realize that the biggest changes can take the smallest steps.
In the end, we're given the kindling to start the fire of change, it is our decision to light it and stay warm and freeze to death!
Simplexity is free to read on Amazon Prime reading.
But when I did read it, I witnessed Reid writing about situations in the workspace that were vaguely familiar to what I've experienced.
Simplexity is a 30 page short story that follows Yumi and her job at Simplexity, a reputed design firm. Through the easy narration, we understand that Yumi and a few others aren't treated the same way the others were.
What was shocking was that the organization boasted a team dedicated to equal and diverse opportunities and the team worked hard to implement cultural reforms that would make it and equal space for all. But what was being done, was what the organization thought would create an equal workspace, built entirely from their point of view and managed to turn a blind ignorant eye to the obvious avenues to making it actually equal.
What was worse, was that when discrepancies were brought to their attention, they made it even more horrid by completely ignoring what the person had to say and doing something completely irrelevant because they thought it would resolve said discrepancy.
It really does get you thinking about the idea of equal opportunities was something forced into the minds of these people or a marketing gimmick that puts themselves in a postive light. Kinda like a pat on your own shoulder for doing something that you think is right but in reality it was only partially right.
The story offers no proper resolution as such but is written, in my opinion, as a means through which people can have their eyes opened and consider others of the different sex, caste, color, race as humans, equals and realize that the biggest changes can take the smallest steps.
In the end, we're given the kindling to start the fire of change, it is our decision to light it and stay warm and freeze to death!
Simplexity is free to read on Amazon Prime reading.
May 7, 2022
A short story about a modern office workspace. After covid I wonder how many companies are still offering the perks such as neck messages, cereal bars and meditation spaces?
August 16, 2021
Twitchy, awkward conversations, crappy colleagues, workplace discrimination and a character who meant well but maybe missed the mark. It was good.. ish
May 8, 2021
Workplace discrimination and bitching. Sometimes it's easier to stand up for others than for ourselves. A good read - even if too short.
March 4, 2021
Part of The Currency Collection, short stories that explore wealth, class, competition, and collapse.
The summary speaks a lot about microaggression, but I have to say the senior staff showed a blatant disregard of inclusion – there was nothing micro about any of it. Still, the point was made and the characters were vivid. A lot was packed into 30 pages.
The summary speaks a lot about microaggression, but I have to say the senior staff showed a blatant disregard of inclusion – there was nothing micro about any of it. Still, the point was made and the characters were vivid. A lot was packed into 30 pages.
June 17, 2021
A short story from the "Currency" collection on Kindle.
Yumi Parr is one of 8 Asian employees in the 64-strong team at Simplexity Design, a chic upmarket design house. When Yumi notices certain privileges that the white women have, she brings it to the attention of some of the other non-white employees. Her observations are not universally well-received, in what turns out to be a look at micro aggressions, performative activism, and the demands expected of BIPOC that ultimately lead to the continuation of their oppression in the workplace.
I wish this were a full length novel.
Yumi Parr is one of 8 Asian employees in the 64-strong team at Simplexity Design, a chic upmarket design house. When Yumi notices certain privileges that the white women have, she brings it to the attention of some of the other non-white employees. Her observations are not universally well-received, in what turns out to be a look at micro aggressions, performative activism, and the demands expected of BIPOC that ultimately lead to the continuation of their oppression in the workplace.
I wish this were a full length novel.
March 13, 2021
I found this short story really boring, mainly because I hate the sort of company being portrayed and although the message about marginalisation was clear I didn't actually like any of the characters. Having bought my girls up to have a good work ethic I found all these characters the type of worker I would have no problem in managing out of the organisation. Just overshadowed the message for me really.
February 28, 2023
Extremely boring
Read
April 9, 2021I don't really rate short stories because usually I either like them or I don't but I did really, really enjoy this. I haven't read Such a Fun Age yet, but I really want to, especially after reading this. Just a great examination of race, workplace culture, some startup culture stuff and Reid brings it together really well in such a short number of pages. If you're looking to pick up a short story, I would definitely recommend this one.
April 24, 2021
Reid definitely has a way of writing that is so natural; it really feels like you’re overhearing an actual conversation. And she’s so plugged in to the awkward social situations that pop up all the time between strangers who happen to work together or become friends. The only issue with this current story is that, like most short stories, it ends abruptly and without much resolution.
June 19, 2021
Simple. Nice for a young reader facing school and possible work interactions. Strongly recommend guidance. It reads like overhearing a table of high school kids, both sides. There was no profanity, and I did like that.
November 17, 2021
Me lo leí anoche en medio de un insomnio de catarro. Me encanta Kiley Reid, qué ganas de su próxima novela. Mientras tanto, este relato me ha parecido súper sutil, súper bien construido, súper chulo.
April 26, 2023
Interesting little short story. A very timely take on current workplace politics that I think more people would benefit from listening to. But I guess that was kind of my issue with the story: it felt like an example from a training module. Not bad though, and worth the hour.
January 12, 2025
Reid has a clear-cut way to write about the dilemmas created by prejudice and discrimination, not only for those being oppressed, but also for those advocating against the oppression. Very thought-provoking...
March 18, 2021
A really interesting snapshot of the challenges that women and minority racial groups face in an office environment.
May 8, 2021
She's just so good at making you feel slightly uncomfortable
Displaying 1 - 30 of 197 reviews