chapters 30-37 Summary and Analysis

In Chapter 30, the ultimate paradox in efficiency is the scheduling of flights. Gleick talks about a flight from Phoenix to Dallas-Fort Worth that flies to two separate points in Virginia before flying to Dallas. This seems to make no sense at all since Virginia is clearly not in the flight path. Everyone has been the victim of this strange pattern. However, the FAA and the people at the airlines insist that there is a method to their madness - saving minutes. The process has become so complicated that people cannot figure it out or alter it - everything must be done by computer.

In Chapter 31, Gleick refers to the book "365 Ways to Save Time." The book has a list of ways in which to save time and gives ideas on what types of things can be done at the...