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Indecision: A Novel Audiobook
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(2.01) - 2,248 listener ratings
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Benjamin Kunkel’s brilliantly comic debut novel concerns one of the central maladies of our time–a pathological indecision that turns abundance into an affliction and opportunity into a curse.Dwight B. Wilmerding is only twenty-eight, but he’s having a midlife crisis. Of course, living a dissolute, dorm like existence in a tiny apartment and working in tech support at the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer are not especially conducive to wisdom. And a few sessions of psychoanalysis conducted by his sister have distinctly failed to help with his biggest problem: a chronic inability to make up his mind. Encouraged by one of his roommates to try an experimental pharmaceutical meant to banish indecision, Dwight jumps at the chance (not without some meditation on the hazards of jumping) and swallows the first fateful pill. And when all at once he is “pfired” from Pfizer and invited to a rendezvous in exotic Ecuador with the girl of his long-ago prep-school dreams, he finds himself on the brink of a new life. The trouble–well, one of the troubles–is that Dwight can’t decide if the pills are working. Deep in the jungles of the Amazon, in the foreign country of a changed outlook, his would-be romantic escape becomes a hilarious journey into unbidden responsibility and unwelcome knowledge.How to affirm happiness without living in constant denial of the ways of the world? How to commit, and to what? At once funny and poignant, gentle and outrageous, finely intelligent and proudly silly, Indecision rings with a voice of great energy and originality, while its deeper inquiries reflect the concerns and style of a generation."Here’s what Indecision gives you: sustained social and intellectual comedy, possibly the last but certainly the funniest Superfluous Man in modern literature, drive-by satire, plus detailed set-piece send-ups of Young Adult colgrads at work and play. The mockery ishumane. The tale of Dwight Wilmerding is told with style and care. And there’s a surprising ending. Benjamin Kunkel, welcome!"–Norman Rush, author of Mating
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"C'era una volta una generazione di 30 anni alla deriva. C'era una volta una generazione che non sapeva scegliere niente di niente nella propria vita. C'ERA UNA VOLTA UNO scrittore che scrisse di un ragazzo di questi.Il resto metticelo tu. "
— Terri (4 out of 5 stars)
Awards
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A 2005 New York Times Book Review Notable Book
Indecision Listener Reviews
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" So many lessons... "
— Amnuck, 2/2/2014 -
" This book is an embarrassment to people in my generation. Novels should attempt the impossible task of naming that which can't defined, of making us more certain and full of wonder all at once. Benjamin Kunkel goes so far as to tell us, though his protagonist, what's missing in our lives: Democratic Socialism. Thanks a lot, asshole. "
— Joel, 1/31/2014 -
" I liked it, but didn't find it to be that hilarious. Maybe because I'm an overthinking 28-year-old myself.(view spoiler)[ The conclusion, while charming, was sudden and rather unmotivated. (hide spoiler)] "
— Christoph, 1/30/2014 -
" Loved it. Thoroughly modern, fascinating main character and voice. "
— Emma, 1/29/2014 -
" yeah, i really liked this one. most important, it was funny. "
— Josie, 1/13/2014 -
" Sincerity is the new sarcasm. "
— Ethan, 11/29/2013 -
" The main character becomes quite annoying and a bit too navel-gazzely for my taste. At some points of the book you can see why people were impressed by Kunkel's talent. Hopefully, he will improve his ability to work with and more fully develop a plot the next time around. "
— Jonathan, 11/20/2013 -
" obviously a first book. seems to pick up and go into interesting territory, only to end like a cheesy romantic comedy. "
— fahad, 11/17/2013 -
" I am surprised at the low score this book got. I found it to be absolutely hilarious and touching at the same time. "
— Nicola, 11/12/2013 -
" As undecided as the protagonist was I in the question whether I should keep trying or stop reading because I wasn't particularly interested in the story. Finally I gave up after about 40 pages. "
— Karschtl, 11/11/2013 -
" i think i forced myself to read to pg 100 in this but i fucking hated it! i'm not sure i even made it that far. this guy is just another priviledged d-bag who has nothing interesting or introspective to say "
— Audrey, 11/5/2013 -
" This book is a lot like its (distinctively rendered)narrator--clever and charming enough to be ingratiating, but not to be looked to for anything serious or meaningful. "
— Jesse, 10/29/2013 -
" The only reason i gave this three stars instead of two is because of the strong beginning. It really went downhill quickly. "
— Agata, 8/7/2013 -
" Don't like it. "
— Janine, 7/3/2013 -
" started off pretty funny, became a great travel story, then turned into a weird drug story, and ended in a political "moral of the story" which was apparently the whole point of the book. "
— Iz, 6/3/2013 -
" First half of the book was laugh-out-loud funny, then it just got increasingly wha--? "
— Allison, 3/15/2013 -
" eyes on the road - read with my ears. Good entertainment factor with the task at hand "
— Christine, 1/27/2013 -
" Coming-of-age story most suited for those in their twenties who don't know what the hell they want to do with their lives but have been in the same rut for too long a time and can't seem to escape the goddamned purgatory. "
— Scrumplet, 8/21/2012 -
" A post-post-modern, post-irony, post-9/11 bildungsromen. Affecting and funny and (yes) moral. Proud that Kunkel is in my generation of young writers. "
— Dan, 3/15/2012 -
" Too whiny and annoying. I stopped reading. "
— Jessica, 1/10/2012 -
" story of my generation. "
— Suzie, 11/27/2011 -
" Still the worst book I've read in years, maybe ever (at the very least: winner of the lowest ratio of quality to hype). I made it ~150 pages in, thus losing two hours of my life that I'm never getting back. "
— Shirley, 11/7/2011 -
" I liked this quite a bit in the first half of the book, then everything got very strange and tedious. "
— Sara, 8/22/2011 -
" Just couldn't get through this one. I liked the writing style; it was pretty funny...and the plot was quirky enough that I wanted to find out what happened, but I don't know. The writing was a little too awkward and I got bored after a while. "
— Erica, 7/4/2011 -
" I liked this better while I was reading than I did once I was done. It tries really hard. Gorgeous cover, though. "
— Frank, 6/11/2011 -
" Full-blown lad lit. I found it kind of stupid and vapid. Could be because I'm not a dude - I still think it's a mediocre effort however you look at it, though. "
— Carissa, 3/29/2011 -
" I read this a while ago but I agree with what many have said. A book version of my least favorite film genre: mumblecore. In other words, I'm overeducated and under 30 and I can't get my life together and I want you to think it's interesting that I don't have any real goals. "
— Larry, 1/17/2011 -
" it had its problems but i would read another benjamin kunkel book should there be another one. i feel like i can see where he's going and he didn't get there with this but i think he'll get there someday. "
— Joanna, 1/3/2011 -
" A cute book but maybe a little too much emphasis on drugs to help push himself in certain directions. I love the smart writing style though & wish he would write a new- more grown up book. "
— Cheryl, 12/1/2010 -
" Not really worth your time. I thought it would be interesting, because I also suffer from indecision- it wasn't. "
— Laura, 11/28/2010 -
" Are you indecisive???? MMmmmmmmmhh... Don't read it then!<br/>It gets even worse!!! "
— Ambra, 11/8/2010 -
" J'ai acheté ce bouquin 1euro, je ne donne pas plus comme étoiles... "
— Alice, 10/8/2010 -
" Coming-of-age story most suited for those in their twenties who don't know what the hell they want to do with their lives but have been in the same rut for too long a time and can't seem to escape the goddamned purgatory. "
— Scrumplet, 9/21/2010 -
" can't really decide if I liked this book or not... honestly "
— Brian, 9/7/2010 -
" I share almost too much with the main character to enjoy this. "
— Mitch, 8/4/2010
About Benjamin Kunkel
Benjamin Kunkel grew up in Colorado. He has written for Dissent, the Nation, and the New York Review of Books, and is a founding editor of n+1 magazine.
About Patrick Frederic
Patrick Frederic is an American actor whose film and television credits include The Big Easy, 200 Cigarettes, and Law & Order, among others.