Gene Wolfe, a celebrated author best known for his Book of the New Sun series, is widely regarded as one of the most talented writers of the 20th and 21st centuries. However, before establishing himself as a literary genius, Wolfe played a pivotal role in the development of a snack that has become a household name—Pringles.
The Role of Gene Wolfe in Pringles’ Creation
In the 1960s, when food science was at its peak, Gene Wolfe worked as an engineer for Procter & Gamble (P&G). This was a time when the idea of making food more mechanical and uniform was a major goal. Wolfe’s journey to Pringles began when P&G’s chemist, Frederick Ball, set out to improve the humble potato chip.
Potato chips at the time were notoriously inconsistent—some were too small, others too big, and many were either undercooked or overcooked. Ball’s solution was a new formula that combined potato, corn, and rice flour to create a chip with a uniform size and texture. He also introduced the distinctive “hyperbolic paraboloid” shape that would allow the chips to stack neatly and maintain their structure.
This innovation caught the attention of P&G, and they tasked Wolfe and his team with designing a machine to mass-produce the chips. To protect the fragile chips, they were packaged in a tube-shaped container, which reduced breakage during transportation.
Wolfe’s Personal Account of the Process
In 2002, Wolfe shared his involvement in the creation of Pringles, recounting how the original concept came from a German inventor with a flawed method of making chips. Wolfe and his colleagues were responsible for the cooking machine, and he was in charge of coating the chips before they were fried and sealed. The team worked tirelessly to refine the process, leading to the creation of the Pringles we know today.
The result was a snack that met the futuristic ideals of the Jetsons—uniform, durable, and easy to consume. However, the journey wasn’t without its challenges. Questions about whether Pringles could be classified as a potato chip lingered for a while, but over time, the snack found its place in the global market. Today, Pringles is the fifth most popular snack brand, with only Ritz crackers surpassing it in terms of salty snacks.
The Legacy of Pringles and Wolfe’s Unique Narrative
Wolfe’s engineering work on Pringles stands in stark contrast to the complexity of his literary creations. As a writer, Wolfe’s stories are known for their depth and intricacy. While Pringles are engineered to be straightforward and addictive, his narratives demand thoughtful engagement from readers. Each sentence is layered with meaning, and every moment contributes to an unfolding journey that keeps readers captivated.
Eating Pringles, particularly the original flavor, offers a taste of 1960s food innovation. The chips are crunchy, flavorful, and consistently satisfying. Yet, much like the snack itself, they can be somewhat bland and lack the complexity found in real, hand-cut potato chips. The uniformity of Pringles makes them easy to consume, but they don’t challenge the eater to think.
In contrast, reading Wolfe requires attention and reflection. His stories don’t offer easy answers or simple pleasures. Each sentence is carefully crafted, urging the reader to think deeply about the consequences of the events unfolding. Wolfe’s narratives are not for the passive reader but for those willing to take the time to appreciate the intricate layers of his writing.
Gene Wolfe’s contribution to the creation of Pringles is a testament to his versatility—his ability to move from engineering to writing with equal brilliance. While Pringles may be the snack that millions of people enjoy every day, Wolfe’s literary work stands as a much more complex and rewarding experience. Whether you’re crunching on a Pringle or reading Wolfe’s stories, both offer a sense of satisfaction, though one requires more patience and thought than the other.
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