How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph.Page)
Quote #4
Most subjects led to their differing ideas of what ailed the nation and thus were off-limits. So they talked about dogs and swimming. (XII.43.85)
You ever go to Thanksgiving with family members who have opposing political beliefs? Yeah, that's pretty much Alan's whole relationship with his dad. There's not much that he and Ron can talk about without resulting in a screaming match—or in Ron reminding Alan just how responsible he is for the downfall of American manufacturing.
Quote #5
They had no interest in manufacturing or the type of person-to-person sales he'd spent his life perfecting. None of them had been even vaguely involved in such things. None of them started, as he had, selling actual objects to actual people. (XVII.30.130)
Alan's inability to connect through conversation with his young IT team illustrates just how much has evolved in our economy. He's quite literally old school: you know, actually talking to people (to their faces! On the phone!) and selling stuff that you can touch. He doesn't have either the language or the concepts to chat with them about anything, and they certainly have no interest in learning about the good old days.
Quote #6
It was the work of a nut. All of it, the letters and clippings, the copies, were all about God, oneness with nature. That was the stuff Charlie was moved by. Grandeur, grandeur—that was the word he liked. Grandeur and awe and holiness and communion, communion with the outside world. (XXIII.15.195)
Charlie Fallon was clearly searching for something meaningful in his life. He didn't seem to be finding it in his personal life or in his work—but he did find it in words. His fascination with the Transcendentalists, alas, probably led to his bizarre death. But it's telling that Alan does not dig any of this hippy-dippy stuff. He's not looking for oneness or communion or unifying beauty, yet Alan, too, is searching—and failing. Perhaps he should have read some of those clippings.