Wheels - Arthur Hailey

Welcome to the Auto capital of the world during the sixties, Detroit, the motor metropolis, seen as never before through the eyes and acts of certain immaculately written characters. Arthur Hailey’s “Wheels” could be termed as an insight into the lives of those who worked for the auto world during the sixties. A balance mix of insight and research into the automobile industry of that time and the impact of the same on the lives of various humans connected to it.

“Wheels” as a book which appears from the top, to be a detailed corporate dairy of the auto executives along with technical details about the entire process of manufacturing of automobiles beautifully put into the story, is actually much more than just that. It gives us a look into the impact the industry as such had on certain characters who are part of it and the effect which it had on their families.

Written about nearly forty six years ago, certain aspects of it are relevant even today. Detroit of the sixties was truly different from the Detroit of today and the fact is so beautifully presented making you really wonder that what life during that time would be! The Principal characters have been very smartly divided into various segments of the auto industry. From a Plant Manager to a Design head to a product planner along with many assembly line workers, with a dealer and a parts manufacturer, every one of them has an important part to convey the various technicalities of the auto industry of that time. Cushion it up with the complicated family and social lives of each of the characters that gives us a glimpse into the social life at Detroit during those years.

There are also quite a few surprises which reveal a life that perhaps may not be known to the people outside the auto industry, both socially and industrially. The female characters and their introspection of their lives have been explained at most in detail. The complexity in their lives and the manner in which they try to get over it throws a lot of light into the lives of such families during that time in that city. It is very evident that the research took the form not only sources limited to books or magazines, it went beyond.

Also the hectic life of Automobile manufacturing plant description makes us think about the industry’s hardships and particularly what they call the assembly line.

How much of this book may be relevant today, may actually be perceived differently by different readers, but certain aspects which the author has beautifully conveyed is very notable. Like in one of parts of the narrative, when one of character lands in one of his favourite city, the entire description of the impact of pollution to the environment is insightful for those times during those years. Another aspect which really caught my attention is the narratives focus on the entire design study and technicalities involved with the same. The entire episode of the Intra company comparison and corporate espionage for future designs was fun to read.

Arthur Hailey’s use of language may be slow and in depth, but it does make you enjoy the ride. A very pleasurable ride into the Auto world of that time and a very interestingly webbed story which gives an equal balance to the socio economic lives of the characters through which we learn so many of the social aspects of that time and the Auto world.