An absolute genius masterpiece. One of my favorite books and worthy of rereading. The concept is brilliant, and executed greatly. Critical of current structures in place and especially academia with well deployed arguments and insights with substance. Poetically written and many lines and paragraphs that will make you pause, reflect, and think. The book ends on a masterful novella, where loneliness is beautifully constructed, explored, and debated. Thankful for the ideas about academics and loneliness, perhaps intertwined issues of our times.

The only reason that this is not 5 stars is because of its treatment of female characters. Having a lack of them is not a problem for me per se. Rather, it’s the way they are put on paper as background props and sexual objects. Very often they are an (unnecessary) addition in a paragraph just to be perceived and lusted after, instead of providing balance to the story. Besides this distortion, which could definitely drive you away, I encourage you to read this in a moment you don’t feel required, and know that you are.