Indecision

Indecision (2006) by Benjamin Kunkel (Random House Inc (T)) ISBN: 0330444573 Condition: Used (existentially thumbed, structurally fine) as sold by Crappy Old Books Indecision is the coming-of-age story for anyone who somehow reached their late twenties, or thirties, or frankly beyond, and realised they still had absolutely no idea what they were doing. Our hero is Dwight Wilmerding, a man so chronically unsure about everything that he can barely commit to a train of thought, let alone a life plan. His job is pointless, his love life is a shrug, and his main long term relationship is with vague dissatisfaction. Enter a mysterious offer, an experimental drug that supposedly cures indecisiveness, and a spontaneous trip to South America that looks suspiciously like an ill-planned gap year undertaken too late. Dwight sets out to discover himself, or possibly escape himself, or at least get some decent weather and a change of scenery. Along the way there are philosophically overcaffeinated conversations, overanalysed romantic possibilities, and the dawning realisation that you cannot medicate your way out of having to actually make choices. This particular copy comes to you via Crappy Old Books, a business model built entirely on the fact that plenty of people did, eventually, decide to declutter their shelves. You should expect the following very reasonable signs of previous existence: A cover with light scuffing and the odd tiny crease, as though it has already endured being jammed in a backpack, dropped near a bed, and briefly considered as a coaster. A spine with a few reading lines that testify to at least one human being muttering I relate to this far too much while turning pages. Corners that are gently rounded, much like the ambitions of someone who has read one too many lifestyle articles and done nothing about any of them. Inside, all of Dwight?s dithering remains fully intact. The pages still deliver every anxious overthought moment, every half-baked plan, every semi-ironic observation about late capitalist drift and aimlessness. The text is crisp enough, the chapters all present, and if the paper has started to mellow to a warm off white, you can consider it thematically appropriate: time has passed and decisions were still not made. Buying Indecision in Used condition from Crappy Old Books is also a tidy little meta-joke. You are reading about a man who cannot commit, in a book that someone else eventually committed to getting rid of. They moved on. You, meanwhile, have heroically chosen to adopt their discarded existential crisis in paperback form. This counts as character development. Probably. Perfect for readers who like their protagonists confused, self aware and slightly ridiculous enjoy novels where not much explodes but a lot of internal monologues do have ever stared at a form, a relationship, a job, or a menu and thought I simply refuse to be responsible for this choice Take home this Used copy of Indecision and put it on your shelf, ideally after only a brief internal debate about whether you should. The exterior may be a little worn, but the quarter life confusion, awkward humour and wry self examination inside are still operating at full strength. THIS BOOK BEARS THE CRAPPY OLD BOOKS STAMP. IF THAT IS UNDESIRABLE PLEASE DO NOT BUY THIS. THE STAMP MARKS WHICH IS USUALLY TO THE FRONT AND BACK INNER PAGES SAYS SOLD BY CRAPPY OLD BOOKS WITH WEB SITE URL. IT IN NO WAY DEMINISHED FROM THE READING. IF YOU WANT A PRISTINE BOOK, PLEASE FIND ANOTHER BOOK IN BETTER CONDITION SOMEWHERE ELSE.…