My Thoughts on the Novel, All That Man Is…

I was both saddened and satisfied when I finished reading this book. As I said, it is a mosaic novel, and the characters depicted within are men all at different stages of life, all struggling with identity, all existentially stranded.

Nine men are portrayed, so it doesn’t make sense to discuss all of them here—it would merely be a list. What I will discuss is the depth to which Szalay portrays their hardships. Their social, mental, financial, and sometimes emotional struggles are both immediate and distant. Many times, I found myself identifying with all of these men.

Their different personalities make their painful journeys profound. Whether it’s timidity, anger, resignation, or suicidal ideation, the short snapshots we see of these men’s lives are as emergent as they are individual.

I recommend this book to lovers of mosaic novels and character studies.