This is one of my favorite Heller's books.

It is truly hilarious and filled with unique charm.

I have a particular fondness for the portrayal of White House politics in it.

The way Heller presents the political scene is both captivating and thought-provoking.

It offers a satirical and yet insightful look into the inner workings of power and the absurdities that often accompany it.

Compared to "Something Happen", this book is far superior in my opinion.

It has a more engaging plot, better-developed characters, and a sharper sense of humor.

Every page is filled with witty remarks and unexpected twists that keep the reader hooked from beginning to end.

Overall, it is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good political satire or just a great book in general.

Darkly inspirational tale of corporate de-humanization. And golf.

In a world dominated by corporations, the story unfolds as a darkly inspirational account of the de-humanization that often occurs within these large entities.

The protagonist finds himself caught in the gears of a faceless corporate machine, where individuality is sacrificed for the sake of profit and efficiency.

Amidst the chaos and monotony, golf emerges as an unexpected source of solace and inspiration.

On the golf course, the protagonist discovers a sense of freedom and connection with nature that is absent from his corporate life.

As he swings the club and watches the ball soar through the air, he begins to question the meaning and purpose of his existence within the corporate world.

This darkly inspirational tale serves as a reminder that even in the most de-humanizing of environments, there is always the possibility of finding hope and inspiration in the most unexpected places.

And perhaps, through the power of golf, the protagonist will find the courage to break free from the corporate chains and reclaim his humanity.

When Heller was at his best, as he is in this particular work, he stands shoulder to shoulder with the very best writers of his generation. His writing is characterized by a unique blend of humor and intelligence that is truly captivating.

It is a great pity that he was not more prolific. Imagine the wealth of literary treasures he could have bestowed upon us if he had continued to write with the same vigor and talent.

Moreover, his untimely death at a young age is a tragedy that has left a void in the literary world. We can only wonder what he might have achieved had he been given more time.

Despite these regrets, Heller's work will always be remembered and cherished for its brilliance and originality.

Hovering behind this peculiar hybrid novel is the spirit of Henry Kissinger, a prominent figure who served as the former National Security Advisor to Richard Nixon and Secretary of State for Gerald Ford.

Heller repeatedly conjures up the image of Kissinger on his knees with Richard Nixon in the Oval Office, both praying to God just before Nixon's resignation.

Additionally, Heller unleashes contempt on Kissinger for his actions during the Vietnam War, his associations with Palestinians, his playboy reputation, and his audacity in promoting his personal image as the lone cowboy who rides into town to set things right.

Heller's portrayal of Kissinger is scathing, and it has forever altered my own memories of the man and the era.

What makes Kissinger detestable is intertwined with an assimilationist need to prove his worth, substituting his own values with America's worst: a relentless pursuit of power and its trappings, and the inevitable suppression of the human soul.

This specific theme in the novel also reflects Bruce Gold's second-generation assimilationist endeavors.

Despite his intellectual and literary prowess and his ability to manipulate the academic system, the character is shown attempting to break free from the familial values that have curbed his ego.

However, his aspiration to achieve great success in politics is ultimately hindered by the negative example set by Kissinger and the unbreakable bonds of marriage, family, and race.

Heller employs absurdism as a tool to depict family and politics, but the result is unbalanced.

While the family dynamics are painfully real, comic, and moving, the political dynamics are farcical and lack substance.

The absurdist portrayal of an administration where the president spends most of his time writing his ongoing memoirs, the White House staff constantly changes and modifies their policies, the best position statements are never written, and cronyism and favors are the norm may be too lenient and ineffective for genuine satire or even accurate portraiture.

There are some humorous moments, but the zaniness doesn't mesh well with Bruce Gold's predicament or with the overarching spirit of the ultimate buffoon, Henry Kissinger.

Heller has talent to spare; "Good as Gold" entertains and often astonishes, but its Frankenstein-like construction causes it to lag behind his more seamless works such as "Catch 22," "Something Happened," and "God Knows."

"Something Happened" takes a similar path. It is satire that is overflowing with pathos, cynicism, and humor. The story follows one man's life as he engages with a particular industry, namely politics in Washington, while being Jewish. It is enjoyable, funny, and comically factual. Heller is outstanding as the great absurdist, highlighting the illogical nature of human relationships. This is not "Catch-22" as it has far more memorable characters. Nor is it "Something Happened" as it has a much sadder ending. Due to its context, it offers a funny and sad perspective on the Jewish immigrant life in America as it interacts with the established 1% in Washington D.C.

Did I love it? Nah.

Did I hate it? Nah.

I was left with a sense of longing, wishing that I knew a great deal more about Henry Kissinger. There was a feeling that I was on the periphery of numerous jokes, as if there was an inside story that I was not fully privy to.

For a more in-depth and lengthier review, it can be found over on my blog. This blog post delves deeper into the various aspects and provides a more comprehensive analysis of the subject matter. It explores different perspectives and offers additional insights that might have been missed in this brief summary. So, if you're interested in learning more, be sure to check out the full review on my blog.

I initially had the impression that this book was just average. It was definitely not among Heller's finest works, yet it did have some witty and perceptive moments in certain parts. However, my opinion underwent a significant transformation when I was approximately two-thirds of the way through the book.

This particular book spans a hefty 500 pages. But I can firmly state that it seems to have only three or four central ideas or jokes that are repeated ad nauseam. They are repeated over and over and over and over and over AND OVER again, to the point where it becomes truly nauseating. The jokes that might have been amusing during the first twenty iterations turned into something depressing after being repeated five thousand times.

Moreover, there were all those digressions about Kissinger. Honestly, this book was in desperate need of a proper editor. Without one, the excessive repetition and the seemingly random digressions detracted greatly from the overall quality and readability of the book.

"Good as Gold" is indeed as excellent as Heller can get in the rarified atmosphere of his renowned works like "Catch 22" and "Something Happened." Clearly, this novelist is among the finest American satirists. Satirists play a crucial role as they not only speak the truth to corrupt power but also undermine it by making it seem laughable. When sinister forces are rendered imbecilic, people are less likely to fear and consent to them.

The narrative's premise revolves around a Jewish intellectual named Gold, who is invited to become Secretary of State. The tragicomic events that follow lead him to a decision point regarding the importance of striving for vast and even absolute power. Similar to "Catch 22," it is government bureaucracy and ineptness that bear the brunt of Heller's narrative. The antics of Congress provide a rich context for the absurdity of power depicted in "Good as Gold." One can't help but wonder about the tragic flaws in those who relentlessly seek power on a grand scale. Is it egomania, narcissism, greed, materialism, wealth, control, or all of the above? Isn't Congress, with some notable exceptions, on the whole, like a National Museum of Egomania?

The dialogue in this novel is witty and hilariously pithy in its portrayal of those who single-mindedly pursue their will to power within the government structure. Why isn't the will to power understood for the inherent human defects that its pursuit reveals so ubiquitously? Don't we have numerous examples from human history that make this point evident, especially when self-interest and arrogance become central in the noxious mix of greed driving the will to power? Are arrogant people only able to recognize their flaws retrospectively, after being forced or unforced into humility? Is greed only evident after wealth turns to poverty? Is humanity a necessary casualty and blind spot for those who pursue wealth above all else on a grand scale? How much money and power are enough? Has anyone read Goethe's "Faust"?

Heller's second premise for the novel is to explore what it means to be a Jew in America in the 20th century. His portrayal of life in New York within an extended Jewish family is both telling and intriguing. It's a narrative about the experience of bigotry, stereotyping, and profiling. The dialogue is masterful, and Heller holds nothing back. Like Yossarian, we find Gold bewildered by the absurdity of the society he is immersed in. In this sense, Gold becomes an everyman trying to make sense of the unfathomable forces in everyday life. Gold reminds me of the protagonist, John Self, in Martin Amis' "Money," in that one of the greatest absurdities is why he behaves as he does. If Gold were malevolent, his villainy would overshadow any sympathy a generous reader might have for such a highly intelligent but fundamentally flawed protagonist. It's the bewilderment, ineptitude, and brilliance of Heller's novel protagonists that intrigue readers, as they are all reflections of Heller himself: a man intellectually at war with himself and his own society, a Hobbesian jungle run by fools masquerading as saviors within an arrogant, democratic bastion of civilization.

The novel starts slowly but rewards patient readers. It ends somewhat abruptly, with intriguing story lines suddenly closed off, as if Heller, after 445 pages, realized his book was getting long and he was tired of writing. Heller ranks among the Pantheon of American writers of the caliber of Saul Bellow and Kurt Vonnegut. Read this great novel for the pure comic wit evident in the story line, characters, and dialogue, and then take away everything else that Heller so generously offers to reward discerning readers.

Heller employs the identical dark and absurd humour that he utilized against the US army in Catch 22. However, this time it is aimed at the US government. Bruce Gold, a disillusioned and dissatisfied college professor, is presented with a high-level position in Washington. But here's the catch - we never truly know for certain if he was actually offered the position. Now, he finds himself compelled to grapple with the temptation to'sell out'. This not only pertains to his current career but also extends to his wife and extended family.

It is darkly hilarious, yet in certain aspects, it is chilling, just as one would anticipate from Joseph Heller. His unique brand of satire shines through, exposing the flaws and absurdities within the corridors of power. The story of Bruce Gold serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the moral dilemmas that individuals may face when presented with seemingly lucrative opportunities. Heller's ability to blend humour and seriousness makes this a captivating read that leaves a lasting impression.

I was nineteen when this novel came out. The year was 1979. It was a tortured work, yet it was very much of its time. Fortunately for me, I was also part of that era.

Almost every historical figure mentioned in the book (and most of these figures are mentioned in a chapter where the main character peruses newspaper clippings about Henry Kissinger, who was a newly former Secretary Of State in 1979) was familiar to me.

At times, the book seems prescient about our era. After all, the resignation of Richard Nixon, which occurred after Congress voted to impeach him but just before that body could actually impeach him, looms large over this story of a man who has a White House appointment dangled before him.

The comedy in the book doesn't work very well. It feels forced. However, there are some brilliant lines here and there.

The parts I liked a great deal were about the main character's family in Coney Island. There is some narrative experimentation in this book, and Heller does that quite well. But as a whole, a sense of frustration with his own writing pervades Heller's GOOD AS GOLD.

Originally published on my blog here in April 2003.

Heller's third novel, "Good as Gold", has a distinct charm. It reads almost as if it were the written counterpart of a Woody Allen film. The story delves into the Jewish experience in the US during the late seventies, and it is filled with the same sort of bittersweet humour that is so characteristic of Allen's work. The novel centres around Bruce Gold, a second-generation American Jew who is approaching middle age. He is desperate to be taken seriously in various aspects of his life - as a writer, as a family member, especially by his irascible father and brother, and as someone who can make a significant mark in the world. Most of the narrative revolves around his frantic pursuit of a job in Washington, after he learns that the President was impressed by one of his essays. The big question that looms is how much of his principles and his life he is willing to sacrifice in this pursuit.

It is true that the ground covered in the novel is rather familiar, and much of it now seems dated. Naturally, it received the typical Joseph Heller review. Someone described it as "his best since Catch-22". While other novels have since claimed that title, "Good as Gold" still manages to be funny and, at times, disturbing as it portrays a man being consumed by ambition.

This book is superbly funny, with a wonderful richness of dialogue that keeps you engaged from start to finish.

It also has a beautiful surreal edge that reflects the insanity of the D.C. crowd, adding an extra layer of depth to the story.

Although the plot may seem to go nowhere at times, despite its relatively hefty length, the sense of dislocation and fear inherent in Gold's Jewishness combines with the novel's humour to create a strangely compelling read.

The book is filled with memorable characters, such as Lieberman, the ageing WASP anti-semite Biddle, and the tyrannical Julius.

It also features an oddly moving exploration of identity and loss, which adds a touch of poignancy to the overall experience.

Overall, this is a book that is well worth reading for its unique blend of humour, surrealism, and exploration of important themes.