Miscellaneous
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Sociology A friend whom I met years ago when we were working as temps for the same corporation loaned me this book. It is a fascinating sociological study of temporary workers, mostly clerical workers, written by a man who, like I did, worked as a temp during the summers throughout graduate school. Henson's work includes interviews with temp agency workers and temp
employees, as well as past and current research in the field. One of
the most interesting aspects is his deconstruction of the training
videos and other materials offered to new temporary employees. Like the
movie Clockwatchers (which I also recommend, for a satiric view
of the industry), Henson's study captures the variety of ways in which
temporary workers are underestimated and ostracized by full-time
employees and supervisors, who may or may not appreciate the effects of
their actions.
Humor I recently came across a book by Bryson on a colleague's bookshelf and thought it looked interesting. I checked out this title and absolutely loved it. While reviewers have said that Bryson is at times like Dave Barry, and I do like some of Barry's humor, I think Bryson is a more well-rounded writer. Not only did Bryson's ability to narrate situations make me laugh out loud at times, but his intense enthusiasm for every subject about which he writes made me become interested in subjects like famous botanists and the types of trees in the United States. These are not normally subjects toward which I would be drawn, but Bryson makes them fascinating. Also, there are poignant moments in the book and beautiful descriptions of solitude and the nature he encountered during his hikes along the Appalachian Trail. |
He
discusses not only the power politics inherent in temporary work, but
also describes the politics of the larger industry. Henson writes that
some major temporary agencies lobby state and federal legislatures to
make sure that government regulations do not inhibit the growing number
of companies who use large numbers of temporary employees in order to
cut the costs of employee benefits. As a result, the book offers
insights into larger economic and employment issues.