"Up in the Air" Thesis

Walter Kirns "Up in the Air" is a novel written in 2001 about a man named Ryan Bingham who works as a traveling career transition counselor.  Ryans career is centered around working for the firm ISM, and traveling to different companies that hire ISM to fire their employees.  The book "Up in the Air" was later made into a movie in 2009.  There have been many changes in the world since 2001 as far as the economy, traveling, technology, and a broad view of the world of business.  The movie has also changed or gives another side of Ryan Bingham that the book does not, such as the relationships he has with women and his family are described more deeply giving his character more of a vonurable and humanistic side of Ryan Bingham.  The book describes Ryan much more cold and unfeeling to the relationships he has with his family, relationships, and coworkers.  Ryan is also accompanied by a co-worker and possible love interest named Alex.  Both the book and the movie show an isolated man whos main interest (more so in the book) of obtaining 1 million flyer miles which only 7 other peoplehave achieved with Great West Airlines.  It is 10 million in the book, but this goal seems to dominate every aspect of his life.  This movie demonstrates how the life of a traveling businessman can isolate himself from other qualities of life that fullfill most peoples lives. Ryan Quoted in the book "to know me is to fly with me".  Not to know me you would see me interact with my family or people that he would love.  His life is strictly business and casual sex with people of similar professions.  He admitts that being married or having children are of no interest to him, and is basically focused on achieving his "Holy Grail" of 1 million frequent flier miles.  The movie ends with Ryan donating his miles to charity and has some sort of revelation of what is more important to him in life.  To read more about obsessions click here http://symptoms.rightdiagnosis.com/