Wakefield

A modern-day Faust embarks on a wild romp through the peculiar and preposterous American landscape

When the Devil shows up in Wakefield''s living room to announce that his time is up, the bookish "de-motivational" speaker tries to strike a deal. The Devil agrees to prolong Wakefield''s life-for now-on the condition that within the next year he finds a more authentic existence. For Wakefield, who is estranged from his family, nearly friendless, and excellent at his job of lowering expectations in a positivity-crazed world, living "authentically" is a tall order. But he will try: an extra 12 months might be worth it.

Wakefield''s bargain sets in motion a cross-country quest to find his life''s purpose. Along the way, he encounters an array of all-American weirdness from plastic surgeons and sadomasochistic strippers to phony New Age yoga gurus and billion-dollar tech start-ups. Codrescu''s astute observations and quick wit illuminate the comedy found in our national culture of narcissism and self-improvement.