Sunday, February 12, 2006
book report: Bellwether
Bellwether
by Connie Willis
Bellwether is a look at how fads and those who follow them shape the fabric of society. Sandra is a scientist who studies fads for the HiTek corporation, where she is tormented by the incompetence of the mail clerk, Flip. Flip is a walking billboard for the current fad, whether it's her hairstyle, hair color, or a tragic fashion-victim outfit. Flip misdelivers a package to Sandra that is supposed to go to Bennett, a chaos theory researcher. Sandra and Bennett end up working together on the idea of predicting fads using chaos theory, with a flock of sheep as their guinea pigs.
This is in no way a deep or profound book, but it is a fun read and is filled with factoids about past fads. It also pokes fun at modern corporate culture, through the ridiculous mandatory company meetings at HiTek. Very entertaining. And the term "bellwether"? It refers to the leader of a flock of sheep - the one who guides the other sheep in a nearly subliminal way.
by Connie Willis
Bellwether is a look at how fads and those who follow them shape the fabric of society. Sandra is a scientist who studies fads for the HiTek corporation, where she is tormented by the incompetence of the mail clerk, Flip. Flip is a walking billboard for the current fad, whether it's her hairstyle, hair color, or a tragic fashion-victim outfit. Flip misdelivers a package to Sandra that is supposed to go to Bennett, a chaos theory researcher. Sandra and Bennett end up working together on the idea of predicting fads using chaos theory, with a flock of sheep as their guinea pigs.
This is in no way a deep or profound book, but it is a fun read and is filled with factoids about past fads. It also pokes fun at modern corporate culture, through the ridiculous mandatory company meetings at HiTek. Very entertaining. And the term "bellwether"? It refers to the leader of a flock of sheep - the one who guides the other sheep in a nearly subliminal way.
Labels: book reports
