Handle Time by Lincoln Park is an alleged satire about working at a call center. I say “alleged,” because I spent a huge chunk of my life working in call centers, and the environment described in this one doesn’t quite resonate.
There’s a page at the beginning of Handle Time that lists all the types of “AUX” codes used in a call center. AUX codes are a series of buttons on call center phones with various functions. For example, if you need a bathroom break, you push the AUX code button labeled “bathroom break.” If it’s time for lunch, you push the button labeled “lunch,” and so on.
The purpose of AUX buttons is to alert your management team to your daily activities—to the very minute. This is partly why call center jobs suck. Your every move is tracked, and you can even get penalized for going to the bathroom frequently.
Anyway, I thought Handle Time would be hilarious after seeing that page of AUX codes, but honestly, there’s nothing really too witty or funny about this book. I also couldn’t relate to the author’s descriptions of different types of call center folk. Again, it didn’t quite jibe with the call center experiences I’ve had, but maybe that’s just me.
Who the heck is Lincoln Park anyway? I can’t really find anything online about this mysterious, quirky persona. Lincoln Park has also written:
- Baked-Off (2009)
- Sculptured Nails and Nappy Hair (2011)
- The Brevity of the Selves (2011)
Have you read Handle Time or anything else by Lincoln Park? If so, I’m really interested in hearing what you have to say! Feel free to leave a few comments below.
Last Updated on February 19, 2026 by Sarah Ann
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