First published 2015
David Shields and Caleb Powell hole up in a mountain cabin for four intense days of conversation and competition. Shields has devoted himself to art at the expense of human connection, churning out five books while struggling to engage with life. Powell chose the opposite path, abandoning his artistic dreams to raise three young daughters as a stay-at-home father. Now former professor and student face off in an endless debate about their choices. They play chess and shoot basketball. They hike to remote lakes and explore an abandoned mine. They watch movies in the evenings and soak in the hot tub. Through it all, they argue about marriage, parenthood, sex, death, happiness, and the price of creativity. Each man tries to prove his life philosophy while undermining the other's confidence. The power shifts constantly between them as old resentments surface and new insights emerge. Their friendship strains under the weight of fundamental disagreements about what makes existence worthwhile.
Genres: drama, literary-fiction, contemporary, academic
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Mountain Cabin
272 pages · Hardcover · Knopf