Max Barry takes on corporate America in this broad farce of a novel, Company. As I read the book, I could not help but think about all the jobs I've held with large corporations that turn employees into cogs with in the machine. While at its core, this novel is satire, it none the less rings very true. Plus, in many ways, this novel reads like something the late, great Douglas Adams would've wrote.
The story starts with Stephen Jones, who is surprised to discover he's been hired at Zephyr Holdings during a hiring freeze. As the days unwind, he ponders what exactly his company does, and tries to figure it out. While the rest of his fellow employees could care less, Jones - in a fit of inspired initiative - discovers what is at the dark heart of his company.
Barry attacks the way corporation dehumanize its employees and certainly provides laugh out loud takes on managers who's goals for the company border on the bizarre.
Meanwhile, the cast of characters, Jones' fellow employees, are rather cartoonish, coming from the world of TV's The Office. Still, while some are stereotypes, many strike true.
And the sad part is, this book would be funny if it was not for the fact that for most of us, this is real life.
The story starts with Stephen Jones, who is surprised to discover he's been hired at Zephyr Holdings during a hiring freeze. As the days unwind, he ponders what exactly his company does, and tries to figure it out. While the rest of his fellow employees could care less, Jones - in a fit of inspired initiative - discovers what is at the dark heart of his company.
Barry attacks the way corporation dehumanize its employees and certainly provides laugh out loud takes on managers who's goals for the company border on the bizarre.
Meanwhile, the cast of characters, Jones' fellow employees, are rather cartoonish, coming from the world of TV's The Office. Still, while some are stereotypes, many strike true.
And the sad part is, this book would be funny if it was not for the fact that for most of us, this is real life.
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