Making Good Time

Mandel brings to light here early twentieth century time/motion photographs made by efficiency experts Frank and Lillian Gilbreth. The Gilbreths used blinking lights attached to moving bodies in combination with time exposures to analyze the motion of factory workers, typists, soldiers, and surgeons. They believed that photography would reveal the most efficient way to perform a task. Responding to this dehumanizing approach to photography, Mandel has made his own time/motion studies. "More waste = more fun," Mandel writes. Thus, in Making Good Time we find the author's own time/motion studies of such endeavors as emptying the fridge, wrapping sandwiches, and watching TV. A delightful and idiosyncratic book.