This is the last book I read. I would only recommend it for someone in the mood for a melancholy book, and only in that case because it only takes a few hours or less to read and can work for some sort of catharsis for neurotic types. It is about a guy who is aging, and filled with regret and with the terror of his impending death. It's redeeming qualities are that the protagonist isn't perfect and his flaws aren't shallow, but we still like him because he's the "everyman" representing the common human flaws and fears. It's also interesting because it shows a person in old age with relateable qualities like libido, and doubt and the things we like to imagine disappear in old age. It was my first Roth book, and I'm told he can be much much better, but if this is his so-so, I think he's pretty awesome.