Something to Do with Paying Attention

by David Foster Wallace

First published 2021

Neurosurgeon Henry Perowne's once-orderly existence is spiraling out of control. Bombarded by endless notifications and the relentless noise of the digital age, he struggles to maintain his concentration as a crucial surgery looms. As Henry's grip on reality begins to slip, he must confront his deepest fears of mental decline and find a way to quiet the chaos before it's too late. At the heart of this gripping psychological drama lies a poignant exploration of how we cope when the very fabric of our attention starts to fray.

Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, contemporary, psychological-thriller, 21st-century

Vibes: emotional, intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking

Tropes: psychological-drama, unreliable-narrator

152 pages · Paperback · McNally Editions

Content warnings: mental-illness

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