Rating: 
Summary: Funny as in "HAHAHAHA!"
Review: It didn't take long for me to read this novel. I was surprised because the idea of reading a story about engineers didn't really strike me as "interesting." However, when I found out that Robert Altman was doing his next film based on this novel ("Voltage", which at the moment is on hiatus), I decided to check it out. Boy am I glad I did! It's hilarious! I mean, I laughed my butt off on practically every page of the book! Robert Grossbach is VERY good with dialogue, sarcasm, dry humor, and so on. Very much embraces the way the engineer thinks (I know many guys like the ones described here). Actually, if one were to compare the humor to that of the film, "Office Space," I'd say it's very close, if not, even more laughable.I love the way this novel exposes the total absurdity caused by workplace bureaucracy, politics, etc. All of the characters are so fascinating and real. Similar to Catch-22 in the sense that none of the policies make any sense, none of workers really care to follow the management's rules, so much complacency and such a rude awakening for a young man entering the workforce three weeks after graduating from college. It's enough to embitter someone for a lifetime. Some examples that set off "out-loud laughter" are Zack's Urinary Styles and Strategies, Shopper Jim's rules of the workplace, aside from all the other incredible idiosyncrasies that all the characters possess. I especially snicker at the way the author describes dressing style of one of the female characters, Lilah. Florescent-colored dresses? My God! For a story set in the late 80s, it's perfect! Still these facets are just a tip of the iceberg. A few issues that made me wonder was 1) Is it true that most guys are as horny and so quick to fantasize and physically react to beautiful women as the main character in this book, Zack Zaremba? I had to consult my husband on this one and he said "Not really," although I now wonder if HE was telling the truth...and 2) Other than the constant horniness, Zack seemed to be rather mature for a 22-23 year-old male. But hey, maybe I just didn't know any mature 22-year-old males in my lifetime! The preceding issues aside, this novel is still very entertaining and disillusioning all at the same time, but never depressing. Very much like the character of Shopper Jim, it's written in a manner that's not meant to be taken too seriously, you could cry at the total absurdity of the engineer's world, or you could just laugh...and laugh...and laugh!
Rating:
Summary: An interesting view into an interesting culture
Review: Most of the fiction that deals with the world of work for technical folks has tended to be a bit trite, doing nothing more just playing on the 'Dilbert' stereotype. The 'managers are idiots and workers are not much better' premise that appears in both movies and books time and time again. Robert Grossbach moves beyond these standard clichés and provides a much more interesting and just as importantly entertaining view of the world of the technical professional in his (it is almost totally a male realm) environment. Between the small writing contest and the 'cheat' within the rules, to one characters total lack of any sort of experience even talking to members of the opposite sex. As well as the management back stabbing and financial tricks provided in a humorous and intelligent way. Bottom line, read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Funny and Real
Review: Most of the fiction that deals with the world of work for technical folks has tended to be a bit trite, doing nothing more just playing on the 'Dilbert' stereotype. The `managers are idiots and workers are not much better' premise that appears in both movies and books time and time again. Robert Grossbach moves beyond these standard clichés and provides a much more interesting and just as importantly entertaining view of the world of the technical professional in his (it is almost totally a male realm) environment. Between the small writing contest and the `cheat' within the rules, to one characters total lack of any sort of experience even talking to members of the opposite sex. As well as the management back stabbing and financial tricks provided in a humorous and intelligent way. Bottom line, read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Coming of Age--as an Engineer
Review: Robert Grossbach's A SHORTAGE OF ENGINEERS is a tragi-comic laugh-out-loud must read for people who enjoy a good chuckle at the aburdities of bureacracy, managers who cannot manage, and parents willing to risk their seven-year-olds for the glory of a soccer game. Fresh out of engineering college, an idealistic Zack has nothing to do for the first seven weeks of his first job with a large engineering firm. Then suddenly the rush is on to meet impossible deadlines, as he tries to work through a Kafkaesque bureaucracy with only Alice-in-Wonderland characters to help. Pitted against hypocritcal managers, insane cynical coworkers with bizarre philosophies and agendas, and nearly impossible electronic tasks, Zack manages to preserve an ideal of engineer as miracle worker. Surpises, sex, and hilarity characterize Grossbach's latest novel. There are no shortages of comic situations, crazy but true-to-life characters, serious issues, and laughs--lots and lots of laughs. The flow diagram of an engineer asking for a date in the middle of the novel is worth the cover price alone.
Rating:
Summary: Must read!
Review: When I picked up this book I was a little leery of how funny the portrayal of life at a big government contractor could be. After many chuckles, and a few out-loud guffaws, I have been converted. Although I work in a technical industry, it is easy to get caught up in the day-to-day nonsense so pervasive today. What a refreshing reminder of how idiotic many policies and procedures can appear to someone new and fresh out of school. As I was reading the book, I felt I knew the characters at International Instruments, having worked with real people very much like those portrayed by Mr. Grossbach. I could also relate to many of the bureaucratic practices described so humorously in A Shortage of Engineers. Mr. Grossbach's sometimes dry, sometimes not-so-dry sense of humor was captivating and held me to the last page. This is one of those (rare) books that made me feel sad when the book ended. I will miss my glimpses into Zack's life and regret having no more opportunities to celebrate the ironies of the workplace with him. I am thankful to have some of my Holiday shopping decided, because several of my relatives will be getting a copy of A Shortage of Engineers in their stockings. But please, don't spoil their surprise!
Rating:
Summary: No shortage of laughs!
Review: When I picked up this book I was a little leery of how funny the portrayal of life at a big government contractor could be. After many chuckles, and a few out-loud guffaws, I have been converted. Although I work in a technical industry, it is easy to get caught up in the day-to-day nonsense so pervasive today. What a refreshing reminder of how idiotic many policies and procedures can appear to someone new and fresh out of school. As I was reading the book, I felt I knew the characters at International Instruments, having worked with real people very much like those portrayed by Mr. Grossbach. I could also relate to many of the bureaucratic practices described so humorously in A Shortage of Engineers. Mr. Grossbach's sometimes dry, sometimes not-so-dry sense of humor was captivating and held me to the last page. This is one of those (rare) books that made me feel sad when the book ended. I will miss my glimpses into Zack's life and regret having no more opportunities to celebrate the ironies of the workplace with him. I am thankful to have some of my Holiday shopping decided, because several of my relatives will be getting a copy of A Shortage of Engineers in their stockings. But please, don't spoil their surprise!
Rating:
Summary: Engineers to the fore
Review: Zack Zaremba is the narrator of this tale. Fresh out of school, he tells us about his first year with Instruments International, a gigantic engineering firm. He is assigned to a job for the Air Force. For the first two months, he just sits in his cubicle with nothing to do, because nobody has the time to give him an assignment. But then he goes to work on a project that is acknowledged to be impossible to complete. But the Air Force wants it, and the company wants the money it brings in. And now the humor really starts - with Zack?s co-workers such as Meissner, the project manager, ?A Boy named Hsu?, constantly worrying Kushner, cynical Shopper Jim, and Frenchman Eduard Boulot, who dreams of owning a book stall on the Seine. Enter also a love interest, and doing good with coaching six year old boys in soccer (something that includes irate parents). Everybody does his own thing. Some of them study law on the side, because that?s where the money is. One of his co-workers even runs his own company right out of his cubicle - and everybody knows it. The Air Force is without a clue, being presented with wonderful slide shows and lots of double talk.. But, in the end, somebody catches on , the project is canceled, and everything hits the fan.All of this is a very funny tale - unless you consider that it is your tax money being pulverized. As a matter of fact it can, and will, happen in many a large corporation. The author himself is an engineer and I must wonder if the book was not written out of past frustration, or a little bit of revenge.
Rating:
Summary: Engineers to the fore
Review: Zack Zaremba is the narrator of this tale. Fresh out of school, he tells us about his first year with Instruments International, a gigantic engineering firm. He is assigned to a job for the Air Force. For the first two months, he just sits in his cubicle with nothing to do, because nobody has the time to give him an assignment. But then he goes to work on a project that is acknowledged to be impossible to complete. But the Air Force wants it, and the company wants the money it brings in. And now the humor really starts - with Zack?s co-workers such as Meissner, the project manager, ?A Boy named Hsu?, constantly worrying Kushner, cynical Shopper Jim, and Frenchman Eduard Boulot, who dreams of owning a book stall on the Seine. Enter also a love interest, and doing good with coaching six year old boys in soccer (something that includes irate parents). Everybody does his own thing. Some of them study law on the side, because that?s where the money is. One of his co-workers even runs his own company right out of his cubicle - and everybody knows it. The Air Force is without a clue, being presented with wonderful slide shows and lots of double talk.. But, in the end, somebody catches on , the project is canceled, and everything hits the fan. All of this is a very funny tale - unless you consider that it is your tax money being pulverized. As a matter of fact it can, and will, happen in many a large corporation. The author himself is an engineer and I must wonder if the book was not written out of past frustration, or a little bit of revenge.
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