First off, I must admit that Sinclair Lewis indeed had a remarkable writing style. His descriptions were truly amazing, and he had a great talent for characterizing the characters. However, as far as I could perceive (and it's fair to say that I only managed to get through the second disk, which is approximately one-sixth of the entire book), there didn't seem to be an actual plot to the story. Seriously, the protagonist would wake up, shave, have breakfast, and then head off to work. He would dictate letters and purchase a cigar lighter. That was essentially it.

I'm not entirely certain why this book is considered a classic. Mostly, I just found myself wondering if everyone else's life was as petty and lacking in meaning as the one portrayed in the story. If that's the case, then I feel sorry for the rest of the world. Something should be done about it. Because, let's face it, my life is much better than what was depicted in this book.

It makes me question the value and significance that others attach to such a seemingly mundane and uneventful narrative. Maybe there's something I'm missing, but based on what I've read so far, I'm left with more questions than answers.

There have been numerous books that delve into the banality of modernity. They explore the monotonous grind of capitalist existence, the ennui and boredom that stem from living in a comfortable environment of security and the status quo. Typically, these books involve a mid-life crisis or a profound shift in worldview. Well, this particular book covers all of that ground. Moreover, it has the added distinction of being one of the first to address any of these issues. What's more, Lewis demonstrates remarkable foresight in predicting what lies ahead for the rest of us. He envisions the unrelenting march into a dull, poetry-less swamp of mindless consumption, numbness, and the (dead behind the eyes) mediocrity of modern living.

That being said, he accomplishes all of this with a rather whimsical and even comic tone. Had he adopted a more weighty and bleak approach, I might have derived significantly more enjoyment from it. As it stands, the book constantly skirts around the edges of its own themes, choosing to play things for laughs. Lewis presents us with a mercurial man, George F. Babbitt, leading a standard middle-class life, and infuses the narrative with joviality and silliness. Admittedly, this is a result of Babbitt's own personality and demeanor (so it makes sense), but the fact remains that it diminishes the story's impact to some extent and renders everything somewhat comical and trivial (a bit too much for my tastes). George is married with three children and works in real estate. He is a Republican and a member of various affluent clubs. It is only when he experiences a breakdown that he begins to question any of this and (briefly) descends into chasing girls and embracing (equally conformist and performative) radical politics. The fact that his friend Paul Reisling has endured a similar (but more consequential) breakdown also serves as a triggering factor. He starts to question his life and feels the weight of a cold and empty modernity bearing down on him.

The book feels astonishingly contemporary. By that, I mean it gives the impression of having been written in the '50s. It showcases all of the capitalist trappings of that particular era, such as kitchen appliances, cars, movies, fast food, and a straight-laced culture. However, this book was actually published in 1922, and one can see that Lewis is not only criticizing that period but also (quite accurately) foreseeing what is to come. This might be how upper middle-class Babbitt lives his life now, but it is also a preview of how we will all live in the future. Yes, the torment of nothingness that he endures will be everyone's fate in the future. We will all gaze at our partners with boredom, grow weary of the repetition, wonder what any of it truly amounts to, and grope in the dark for some kind of answer. We will ALL be thoroughly bored by life.

Anyway, I now find myself feeling rather sad. So, I'm off to McDonald's. Then it's on to work. And then, well, blah blah blah blah.

In conclusion, it is indeed a great book.

I just re-read Babbit after at least 45 years.

It's truly remarkable how our perspectives can change over time. I'm now convinced that, much like Death of a Salesman, Babbit may elude the understanding of younger readers. At least that was the case for me back then. This time around, however, I was surprised to find myself feeling very sympathetic towards Babbit. After all, to some extent, we all share his characteristics. I was really rooting for him to break free and become the town eccentric.

As a work of satire, Babbit无疑works extremely well. It also functions effectively as a "documentary" of post-war America, providing valuable insights into that era. However, as I delved deeper into the story, I found myself mourning the death of American commercial culture, despite its many flaws. At least back then, people were actively engaged in making things!

Babbit also serves as a thought-provoking commentary on marriage. While I suspect I'll encounter even more profound explorations of this theme in Dodsworth, I don't think marriage has changed all that much. I've always held the belief that marriage is a sort of scam used to control people. Without marriage and children, the entire rotten system would likely collapse. The family, in my view, is the root of all oppression, and Babbit vividly illustrates this point. I sincerely hope things worked out better for Ted.

Strangely, while reading the book, I couldn't help but constantly think of Don Draper. He too suffers from his own brand of Babbitry - that existential angst and the never-ending struggle for meaning and purpose. It's fascinating how these two characters, from different works and eras, share such commonalities.

Overall, re-reading Babbit has been a truly enlightening experience, one that has made me reflect on my own life and the society we live in.

How I truly adored reading this remarkable book!

The way it is narrated in a humoresque style is simply captivating.

It's a story set in the twenties, yet it feels astonishingly relevant today.

It revolves around a middle-class estate agent who finds himself facing a midlife crisis and something akin to burnout.

He has an intense desire to be popular and is willing to go to great lengths for it.

His social status holds immense importance for both him and his wife.

However, as he climbs high, he eventually falls low.

And through this experience, he comes to understand that only self-revelation is the key to life.

The book never loses its charm or becomes dull.

You can't help but laugh at Babbitt's attempts to please everyone and his yearning for a high social status.

It's often uproariously funny, yet at times, you also feel a tinge of sympathy for him.

It's an outstanding book! Without a doubt, one of my all-time favorites.

Before I read it, I thought the title was "Puppit" meaning the puppet, especially since the cover implies that as the picture of the hero is drawn with strings from behind as if there is something/someone pulling him. Then it turns out that the name of the hero is George Babbit, a real estate agent and a glib speaker! But the first interpretation (the puppet) doesn't seem far-fetched or imaginary, especially since what governs Babbit's relationships with his family and friends is money. Money makes him show great loyalty to his city Zenith and drives him to evaluate others based on what they own, which makes him and his wife feel bored when they visit his old friend in his humble home.

Babbit is engaged in a frantic pursuit of money and fame, making him not hesitate to enter into shady deals, relying on the flattery of his conscience until he accumulates enough money to enable him to reject such deeds. And he fooled me for a while when he decided to flee the material world and seek refuge in the mountains and forests with that guide who feels ashamed of his work, for I thought he had found the "path to salvation", and it reminded me of the character Bukhil in the works described by Javier Marias, who spends his life in hotels following the works of others "mostly", and then suddenly shoots himself when he discovers the lack of authenticity in life. However, the hero Sinclair Lewis did not have this degree of sincerity, if the expression is correct, but rather his turmoil was temporary due to the unrest after the arrest of his dearest friend Paul.

In this novel, everyone is looking for their own path to salvation: Babbit by returning to the righteous path and leaving the "gang" and "liberalism" and other slogans that he repeats without belief, and getting more involved in the business world and the "decent citizens" society. Paul in his prison where his wife will protect him from his quarrels, disappointments and humiliations, and Zeila in her refuge in religion which has turned from being dominant to harsh for her. Ted in his opposition to all the traditions of the geriatric society as he describes it.

What was surprising to me was the traditional ending of a character like Babbit who is full of anxiety. The last scene of his struggle for Ted's marriage and his departure to college seemed like the happy ever after endings in fairy tales, which emphasize that everyone lived happily ever after, and give a rosy picture no matter how dark the scene was during the story. Perhaps the author deliberately ended his novel in a traditional way to break the reader's expectations of getting something otherwise.

The novel is rather simple both in its plot and structure, revolving around an average American entrepreneur, a representative of the middle class that has been and still is the backbone of modern America.

George Babbitt is average and standard in every aspect. The force that makes him so is his desire to "fit in" and be no worse than others. These unwritten standards have a centripetal force, causing people to lose their individuality and become a mass. The author meticulously describes the habits and lifestyle of this layer of the population, as well as their way of thinking - nothing remarkable: they value money, are willing to cheat for profit, considering it almost sacred, but the right not to reduce the wages of their workers (let alone increase it) - this is almost a communist threat. There is a bit of satire here, but more of a description of life that was supposed to be expository but has become ordinary and no longer seems like satire - most people are like this. Babbitt's main value is well-being, and he can be safely classified as a bourgeois. He fawns over those who have been more successful than him - McKelvey, and in a mirror-like situation, he is contemptuous of the less fortunate Overbrook. He tried to change something in his life and views, and his attempt to protest - if this outburst can be called a protest - but at the first negative reaction from society, he immediately gave up. Well-being is more important. And his wife's illness showed that he loved her or at least valued her after all.

This is a truly great classic novel with a wonderful translation and a rebellious spirit.

I don't remember a novel that criticized American capitalism and its era as this novel did.

Recommendation.

It is a must-read for those who are interested in exploring the social and economic issues of that time period.

The story is engaging and the characters are well-developed, making it a page-turner from start to finish.

Whether you are a fan of classic literature or simply looking for a good read, this novel is sure to satisfy.

So, don't hesitate to pick it up and discover the world that the author has created.

What pants should I wear to the US Open? I ask myself anxiously at seven in the morning.

Guests of mine are sleeping on our threadbare black futon in our hot, cramped living room.

Should I wear the chinos? I didn't know they were called "chinos" until my girlfriend told me.

The chinos are off-white. Are all chinos off-white? Are there green chinos?

White pants are risky. Is wearing white classy or fruity? Both? Isn't there a "rule" about wearing white? Something about Labor Day.

Never wear white before Labor Day, or after Labor Day or on Labor Day. What day is today? Sunday. And it's the day before Labor Day.

Why not wear my baggy shorts and sneakers and golf shirt? But it's the US Open. It's not a normal sporting event. It's like golf. Wealthy people play tennis at country clubs and will be attending the US Open.

What would they wear? Expensive shirts with collars "popped", expensive sunglasses, white sweaters draped around shoulders with sleeves tied in a loose knot in front of chests, and women with pearl earrings.

I have no sunglasses or white sweaters, my girlfriend has no pearl earrings, and I've never left my collar up on purpose.

I'll bring the matter to our guests. They are in the other room, on the couch. Guests in our apartment. My college friend and his girlfriend who works on Capitol Hill in DC.

I can't afford a house. I live in a poor neighborhood but I'm not the same kind of poor as them. They are immigrants coming to America poor. I am middle class living beyond my means in an expensive city poor.

What if the guests want breakfast? Am I supposed to make breakfast? We don't have time for cooking. We're late. Do wealthy people worry about being on time? Do poor people? Or just middle class people?

Should I buy breakfast? I don't have enough money for that. Our guests have our tickets. I owe them money for the tickets. They are expensive. I have to pay for my ticket and my girlfriend's ticket.

I need to check my bank account. What if I don't have enough? I checked. I don't have enough. What will the others in our party wear? I'll ask them.

Should I wear a hat? I'm balding badly. Just a few wisps of hair-like material on top of my head. I need a hat. Nobody wants to look at a balding man.

I think about George Babbitt almost every day.

Don't allow yourself to be afraid.. ❤️

Fear can hold us back from so many wonderful opportunities and experiences in life. It can paralyze us and prevent us from taking risks and pursuing our dreams. But we have the power within us to overcome our fears.

We can choose to face our fears head-on and take small steps forward each day. We can remind ourselves of our strengths and capabilities, and trust that we have what it takes to handle whatever comes our way.

Instead of letting fear control us, we can embrace courage and use it as a tool to propel us forward. We can surround ourselves with positive people who will support and encourage us, and we can focus on the good in our lives.

Remember, you are stronger than you think, and there is no limit to what you can achieve when you don't allow fear to stop you. ❤️

A Fluid, Ingratiating Life

Babbit desires to be liked, to be embraced by everyone, to feel a sense of belonging, and to enter the circle of those who hold sway over society and, above all, to be regarded as one of them.

The only hitch is that he attains success. He accomplishes all of this, yet at his core, he remains discontented.

He looks up to the life of his dear friend Paul. Paul is an anomaly. A character who might suggest why intelligent individuals can be fully cognizant of shallow ideologies (and the consequences of disavowing them), yet still remain with those who perpetuate them. How all of this could lead to distress on their part and even dangerous outbursts from them.

Paul, whom the circle would deem a rather devious and snobbish man. He felt suffocated in their company. He sought solace in what was labeled as immorality, loafing on the 'edge of a wharf above water' and relishing the joy of being understood and accepted for who he was. For Babbit, Paul might embody the saying; 'Show me your friend and I will show you what you lack but admire'.

Lewis, in this book, skillfully demonstrates how profoundly commercialization has infiltrated and continues to progress unabated into the very fabric of culture, religion, education, and overall existence. The people propelling it are encouraged since, after all, it purports to answer all things. They can thus have a say in matters about which they know absolutely nothing.

This is a timeless book, whose relevance persists overwhelmingly. The interaction among the characters is highly believable and of the highest caliber. What a great book to commence the year!

Given that Babbitt was published in 1922, I had high expectations of traveling back in time and experiencing the life of the 1920s. I longed to be transported to a different era, to be greeted by a foreign world.

However, instead, I mostly felt firmly rooted in the modern day. It is true that the language and manner of speaking are different, with phrases like “by golly” and “by gosh.” But the themes and all of the satire still resonate with the human experience of today. In this way, I found the novel to be surprisingly contemporary.

Sinclair Lewis takes a critical look at the life of a white middle-aged man in small-town America and makes fun of just about everything conceivable. The futile one-upmanship, the desire to fit in, the attempts and failures of self-control, the pretentiousness, the hypocrisy, the lack of individual thought, and the intense conformity. Throughout it all, there is a pervading sense of insecurity, uneasiness, and boredom. One不禁 wonders if this is all that life has to offer?

Even though Sinclair Lewis clearly uses Babbitt as his main vehicle for satire throughout the entire novel, he simultaneously makes Babbitt a complete and fully developed character. A believable human being, not an absurd caricature as often happens in satires. I found Babbitt to be a likeable and endearing character. Despite all his flaws and unhappiness with middle-class, suburban life, he always seems to have an optimism and a certain childlike innocence. He never despairs and has his moments of pure joy. I loved that about him.

The satire in this novel is perfect. I lost count of the number of times I laughed while reading this book. When I say the satire is perfect, I mean it is funny, real, and relatable in a way that allows you to laugh at yourself if you see yourself in Babbitt. The satire is not biting or caustic because when it is overly harsh, it fails as a means of social change. If it is too harsh, you are just laughing at others, which is mean, and they are not likely to change just because you are laughing at them. If you see any part of yourself in what is being satirized and the satire is too harsh, you will end up staunchly defending yourself rather than laughing and being open to change. If the purpose of satire is to nudge us to change ourselves and see how ridiculous we are, then it cannot be overly harsh. From this perspective, I thought Babbitt as a satire was perfect in allowing us to laugh at ourselves.

Babbitt reminds me of Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb.

We often spin a cocoon of "becoming" around ourselves and go about our daily life without much thought.

However, as time progresses, we come to realize that this cocoon is not as transformative as we initially believed. Instead, it becomes binding, restricting our growth and potential.

At a certain point in everyone's life, the cocoon of what we desired to "become" turns into a web that traps who we truly "are".

For most of us, the state of being "Comfortably Numb" creeps up over the decades. It is only then that we wake up and realize that our "butterfly summer" has long since passed us by.

Babbitt represents the "everyman" who never stops to ponder these profound questions. He serves as a Socratic warning, urging us to examine our lives before the act of living loses its worth and meaning.

We must be vigilant and not allow ourselves to be lulled into a false sense of comfort within our self-constructed cocoons.

Only by actively reflecting on our lives and making conscious choices can we break free from the binding webs and truly embrace the potential that lies within us.