Customer Reviews

Wheels

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4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
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The automotive industry in the early 1970s - a time of race relations as well as car-builidng is ripe for Hailey's book. Sure, several parts of it are hacked on (particularly, the automotive dealer part of the book), but the insights are good.

Hailey does his research and always comes up with the idea that there are no easy answers. Hopefully, the reader understand that in the end, and realizes the world is full of compromises, not easy answers.

Wheels by Arthur Hailey, takes place in Detroit, Michigan during the 70's and is about the many different levels of the automobile industry, from the rich and powerful auto executive to the poor and overworked assembly line worker. Hailey researches his topic well before he begins to write and in this novel he exposes all of the corruption that takes place in the auto industry, like crooked dealerships, crime syndicates within the factories, and executives who twist the books to make a profit.

Wheels is a good book if you like novels that are informative because there are tons of info jam packed into this book; but there really isn't a whole lot of action and with the way that Hailey switches from character to character, it is hard to find out who the main character is and what his struggle is. I would read this book if you are interested in the auto industry and want to learn more about it. I wouldn't read it if you are looking for a book with action in it because it will bore you.

Arthur Hailey has shown that great writing can and does stand the test of time. "Wheels" takes place circa 1971 when American automobiles and the people that build them, were working three shifts, shiney, brand new automobiles being driven off of the assembly line, approx. one per minute.
Hailey brings all of his characters to life, from Adam Trenton a "go-getter" white-collar management member to Rollie Knight, a black street thug who finds he almost can make a better life for himself in "Wheels" as he is finally employed and off of the mean streets of inner-city Detroit.
As a lifelong "car person" fan/owner of an American Musclecar of the late 60s, early 70s I was truly amazed at how Mr. Hailey talked about innovations, ideas, designs circa 1971, that would find it's way into American cars ten, fifteen, twenty years later, including safety items. Mr. Hailey knows Detroit, and amongst today's strife in our American auto industry, take some time and read how it once was during Detroit's "Glory Days"!
You'll meet characters in "Wheels" you will never forget.

This gripping novel covers the U.S. auto industry in the early 1970's. Author Arthur Hailey (1920-2004) provides several main characters, each with a separate story that occasionally connects with that of another main character. Those characters include corporate executives, middle managers, corrupt auto dealers, and the blue collar workers that sweated to build cars on the assembly line. Through these characters readers learn much about this fascinating industry. Hailey also covers side issues like pollution, auto safety, mob influence in the factories, racial discord and urban decline. This all takes place in and around the troubled city of Detroit, which was well into its tragic downslide by the 1970's.

Even today, one can learn much about the auto industry from this book. Hailey did his homework, although, like many industry leaders, he missed rising overseas competition and the coming oil shortages. Still, Haley captures the feel of this vital industry in nicely readable style.

I've read Hotel, Evening News and The Moneychangers so I picked this up based on Hailey's name only. Luckily I only spent a quarter on it at a library sale. I have ten pages left and am still trying to figure out what exactly is the plot. It's not a terrible read (I would have put it down if it was) but it never really gets going. Some of the characters are developed but the one I believe is supposed to the main character (Adam Trenton) is not. None of the characters are as developed as in the other books I have read by this author.

I'd pass on this one.

Item was received as expected in timely manner and in condition as expected. pleasure to continue to do business with Amazon.

Even though this book was written back in the late 60's/early 70's it is amazing how much of the issues with the car industry still exist today. Pollution and safety are still forefront on all consumers' minds as they purchase that beautiful gas hog. Even the new 'ugly is beautiful' can still be seen throughout the parking lots in America. It does make you wonder if we have progressed at all. I say that we have. Our vehicles are more fuel efficient and we now have people waiting in line for hybrids. I believe we are not far from the hydrogen vehicle, but we must accept that this may take us another 30 years.

Hailey brings out the intricacies of the tumultulous behind the scenes wheeling and dealing in this dramatized novelization of the sopa opera that is the auto industry.