First off, I've bought this book about five times, I've mailed it, given it away, I have a copy in my car right now. It's the book equivalent of a breath of fresh air. The entire book takes place in the thoughts of Howie, a white collar office worker, as he rides the escalator back to work after his lunch break. The reader follows the stream of Howie's consciousness as he meditates on ordinary objects and situations in a way that makes them seem beautiful and miraculous. For example, Howie considers, at length, why one of his shoelaces breaks before the other, and, believe me, it's delightful. When you feel yourself getting cynical about the tedium of modern life or when you think there's nothing interesting about drinking straws-give it a try. Captivating, beautiful and totally unique. Ahhhhh...that's fresh.
Readers follow the journey of our hero up the escalator and learn why straws don't sink in milk cartons; whether the hot air blowers in bathrooms are really more sanitary than towels; the physics of shoelaces; and how the most trivial of objects can lead to the deepest revelations of the human heart.