Reactions to Up in the Air

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            The novel, Up in the Air by Walter Kirn, was extremely difficult for me to get through.  I found it profoundly anticlimactic.  I lost more interest with every passing page and found myself drifting off.  I would return and reread the portions inadvertently glossed over, only to find that I had missed next to nothing. The bits and pieces that contributed to plot, or were of slight interest, were grossly intertwined with rambling and jargon.  I grew increasingly frustrated as I as tried to recall previously mentioned acronyms, piece together a confusing itinerary, and sort out affiliation among underdeveloped characters. All things considered, the entire book was insignificant for me. With that rant out of the way, I will offer my take on the novel’s content. Although I did not enjoy it, Kirn effectively illustrates the lives of those trapped in the grasp of the ever-growing corporate monstrosity. To learn more about corporate atrocity click here.

The novel’s main character, Ryan Bingham, is a self-absorbed individual who neglects family, healthy interaction, and stable lifestyle. He is engulfed by dysfunctional sexual relationships, which he embraces. Nonetheless, he is clearly distraught by the outcome of his previous marriage. When he concludes his ex-wife’s new husband is genetically superior and more worthy of her marriage, he is slashing a boundary of self-esteem. Bingham lives an artificial life of illusion in what he refers to as Airworld. Although he glamorizes it and accentuates its perks, the reader may peer through the smokescreen and recognize a withering, unfulfilling career.

The notion of career transitioning counseling (CTC) is astounding. It is actually someone’s career to soften the blow of employment termination by providing false hope; summarizing the victim's strengths in a five to six page document. It is no surprise that many recipients tear their review into pieces in disgust. The practice is deceitful and attempts to sugarcoat a tragic reality. It is a form of damage control and essentially requires professional smoke blowing. Bingham began his career faithful to its capacity. He comes to terms with the unfortunate truth, writes a letter of resignation, and resolves to transition to another company, MythTech. Mythtech is mysteriously glorified in the mind of Bingham. As its name implies, MythTech turns out to be just that, a myth. In the end, Bingham has a humbling experience as all of his illusions crumble to pieces. He becomes proactive and addresses long ignored heath issues including routine seizures resulting in memory loss. His impractical, idealistic bubble has been burst and it is time to return to reality and mend a scornful existence.

Work Cited

Kirn, Walter. Up in the Air. New York: Anchor Books, 2001. Print.