Louis Begley's perceptive novel hums with emotional energy and shimmers with haunting images. A National Book Critics' Circle Award finalist, About Schmidt is a powerful meditation on loneliness, desire, and transformation. Old-school lawyer Albert Schmidt has spent years carefully climbing the ladder of success. But now, at what should be the pinnacle of his career, his life is in chaos. Within months, he is widowed and forcibly retired from his firm. He harbors painfully mixed feelings about his ambitious daughter's impending marriage. Suddenly, in the midst of this turmoil, a seductive young woman asks Smitty what he wants. Far from being a time of satisfaction and complacency, the middle age encountered by Begley's hero is the beginning of a new journey tantalizing, yet unnerving. From the first step, Begley draws the reader deeply into a man's quest for new ways to understand an unstable world.
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"This book has little resemblance to the movie (Thank God). I loved it so much, I read just about everything available by Begley at my local library. Begley is a master. "
— Deborah (4 out of 5 stars)
" Awesome story about what happens when you're old and you've been left behind. "
— Brittany, 4/7/2011" Enjoyed the movie, so tried the book. Not as impressed. It was just "OK" "
— Bobby, 1/14/2011" I am looking forward to getting old. "
— Wolfgang, 2/5/2010" a good read, nothing earth shattering, somewhat heartfelt "ing" from a man's perspective............. "
— Geralyn, 11/1/2009" Sooo much better than the movie! Nothing like the movie. <br/>Lois Begley is a cool, calm elegant writer. <br/>Readin him is like drinking a dry martini! "
— Christi, 10/9/2009" Creepy, and not in a good way. "
— Pam, 1/1/2009" Gak. Began wishing that Schmidt had died instead of his wife. "
— Ginny, 10/10/2008" Nothing really like the movie, which was weird. Good book, but I think having seen the movie first ruined it with expectations. "
— Cyndi, 6/21/2008Louis Begley lives in New York City. His previous novels are The Man Who Was Late, As Max Saw It, About Schimdt, Mistler’s Exit, Schmidt Delivered, and Shipwreck.
George Guidall, winner of more than eighty AudioFile Earphones Awards, has won three of the prestigious Audie Award for Excellence in Audiobook Narration. In 2014 the Audio Publishers Association presented him with the Special Achievement Award for lifetime achievement/ During his thirty-year recording career he has recorded over 1,700 audiobooks, won multiple awards, been a mentor to many narrators, and shown by example the potential of fine storytelling. His forty-year acting career includes starring roles on Broadway, an Obie Award for best performance off Broadway, and frequent television appearances.