Books › Up in the Air
Up in the Air
[a novel]
320 pages
A witty, perceptive dive into the sterile comforts and psychic costs of a perpetually airborne, rootless existence.
What it feels like
This novel offers a sharp, perceptive exploration of modern corporate alienation, wrapped in the sterile, transient comforts of airport lounges and anonymous hotel rooms. The narrative moves at a brisk, airborne pace, driven by a wry and witty voice that observes the absurdities of American business culture. As the protagonist's manufactured contentment begins to deteriorate, the mood shifts from detached observation to a deeper, more alienating confrontation with the psychic costs of a rootless existence. The prose is savvy and observant, capturing the exact texture of wrinkle-free slacks and pressurized cabins. It is a perfect read for those who appreciate psychological fiction that dissects the illusion of freedom and the empty pursuit of corporate milestones.
- Mood
- transient
- sterile
- alienating
- anonymous
- Tone
- wry
- perceptive
- witty
- observational
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- corporate alienation · psychic costs of rootlessness · the illusion of freedom · modern American life · transience and identity
- The writing
- Sharp, witty, and perceptive, blending brilliant social observation with a keen eye for the sterile details of corporate travel.
- The arc
- A journey from detached, manufactured contentment to a deteriorating sense of control and a confrontation with the emptiness of a transient life.
- Who it's for
- Readers who appreciate sharp social commentary, psychological fiction, and wry explorations of modern corporate alienation.
Content notes
- job loss
- corporate restructuring
About the book
Ryan Bingham's job as a Career Transition Counselor--he fires people--has kept him airborne for years. Although he has come to despise his line of work, he has come to love the culture of what he calls "Airworld," finding contentment within pressurized cabins, anonymous hotel rooms, and a wardrobe of wrinkle-free slacks. With a letter of resignation sitting on his boss's desk, and the hope of a job with a mysterious consulting firm, Ryan Bingham is agonizingly close to his ultimate goal, his Holy Grail: one million frequent flier miles. But before he achieves this long-desired freedom, conditions begin to deteriorate. With perception, wit, and wisdom, Up in the Air combines brilliant social observation with an acute sense of the psychic costs of our rootless existence, and confirms Walter Kirn as one of the most savvy chroniclers of American life.From the Trade Paperback edition.
Description from Open Library.
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