Helios (Book) - 6/30/2018 6:22:04 AM
As someone who works in a factory setting, I am all too familiar with what happens when quantity comes before quality and Helios drives this point home.
Especially when we're young, as is the story's main character, Chris, it's so easy to fall into the seduction of money and power without knowing what the consequences will be. The characters in the story are genuine and complex while showing us how consumerism in our modern world is often a downfall, not a boon. Well written and heartfelt.
Helios (Book) - 2/5/2018 8:12:52 AM
Unexpected story.
While I admit the bold yellow cover attracted me, the content kept me reading. I found this book to be one of the best I have read on social dilemmas. As a person reads this story it is easy to place oneself in Chris's shoes and contemplate how you would react or what actions you would take.
The first few pages were slow with details of the conglomerate Therion but as the story enfolds, I understood the reason for this detail. The CEO's rant, for lack of better word, was exceptional and relevant for any person and gives the reader something to seriously think about.
The manner of this author's writing is exceptional. From the standpoint of the business world, a professional way for this young man to handle the difficulties he was finding in his job, also the way the bosses observed quickly he needed a different position and how that was handled, was remarkable. Obviously a work of fiction.
To read the story of Chris Andros and his first job out of college --was accurate but disturbing. To have his final boss tell him " you questioned xxx and xxx and saw their half-truths and took a stand against them "about his previous two bosses in the parent company was unsettling but not surprising.
While discussing the parent company Therion with a co-worker and to hear the CEO "favored production quotas over safety, and quantity over quality" was par for the course and left this reader wondering about conglomerates today. This CEO had deluded himself into thinking wrong was right.
The author's use of a fictional company and circumstances to write this story around was a capital idea and in such a way the reader correlates what they are reading with companies today. This book would be useful in a high-school or college ethics class or a sociology class.
The CEO's observation about quality control, advertising, legal department, news stations, and the educational system while speaking about his company and the changes that had to happen were enlightening to say the least.
Thanks to the author for the time and effort for putting thoughts to words and then sharing them.
To have the reader evaluate the ethical boundaries in their own lives is what I took away from reading this amazing publication.
