In this sharp-witted tale of desperation and decadence, a man in midlife tries to escape the anxieties of failure and grueling reality of everyday life with a wide range of distractions-from an opulent home renovation to torrents of pornography to alcohol and pills and fast cars. He's been told again and again that asceticism and a bit of restraint might serve him better, spiritually speaking. But temptation seems to follow him everywhere-and soon the house of cards he's been building may completely collapse

Mode of access: World Wide Web