After reading the long quote about rules, I bought it on Amazon. It sounds awesome, thanks for the recommendation. Link below for anyone else.

http://www.amazon.com/Whatever-Michel-Houellebecq/dp/1846687...

You've described "Whatever" by Michel Houellbecq. I recommend reading it, but it won't make you feel better about your situation.

http://www.amazon.com/Whatever-Michel-Houellebecq/dp/1846687...

If you feel this way there's not much you can do besides leave the industry. In my experience, some people get rich, the eccentric co-worker types plod along forever until they are laid off 300 pounds later, and everyone sort of "normal" disappears off the face of the earth.