Why would Sullivan work for him? Simple. There are two reasons to keep a job like that: 1) you are desperate for the money; 2) the hours are flexible. For Sullivan it was #2 (take that any way you like). However, as he became more and more aware of how bad the company he worked for really was, he became dissatisfied and, following his conscience, quit. Like most good people in bad situations, he stayed longer than he should have (these words come from experience).
Sullivan shares stories about his students and co-workers, and most of them are funny, although he has ironic stories to tell as well. What started out as an enjoyable job (he liked teaching) with limited hours turned into a 9-to-10-hour-a-day, unsafe grind. Sullivan finally realized that no matter how much he could do for his students, it did not equal the bad that his boss was doing.
Despite getting angry at my own memories, I enjoyed Thomas W. Sullivan’s account. It’s worth reading for his colorful similes alone. Sullivan brings his characters to life, and we enjoy meeting most of them (hardly any of the parents, though).
Bottom Line: Would I buy Life in the Slow Lane? Yes, Sullivan is an engaging storyteller. (Note: Life in the Slow Lane would benefit from another round of editing.)
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