The Absence of a Cello by Ira Wallach

It is about a physicist who needs money so badly he turns to the $60,000-a-year job offered by a big corporation. He wants the job, but does the company want him? Mr. Personnel is sent to find out. What seems to be starting out as a shopworn target-individuality versus conformity-turns out to be an ingeniously conceived comical discussion of honesty and truth. After being coached by a gray-flanneled collegiate on how to be what every company wants, the scientist is prepared to confront the enemy (after quickly trading in his rolled-up trousers and flapping shirt for a neat brown suit).He hides the cello he plays with pick-up quartets, he hides the medieval history books his wife writes, he hides all but the acceptable three liquor bottles. He hides, in fact, everything that he and his wife are. And hauls out the television set. What follows is a literately comical play around with industrial conformity that for sheer humor is, well, wonderfully adult.

Paperback, 1960

Goodreads: 3.59