About the book
Set mostly in the poor streets of Montreal around St. Urbain Street, Mordecai Richler's satirical novel follows Duddy Kravitz, a third-generation son of Jewish immigrants. Duddy is scheming, combative, amoral and a liar, and he is hungry to become somebody after his grandfather tells him that a man without land is nobody. From tormenting teachers at the Jewish academy to juggling four jobs at once, he chases money and standing, while his Uncle Benjy favors Duddy's brother Lennie, who wants to be a doctor. Richler uses the hustle to aim his satire at love, money and politics. The novel was published in 1959 and adapted for the screen in 1974.
Ryan Holiday says it falls short of What Makes Sammy Run yet is still very good, and uses a line from Duddy's uncle, about the many people a boy might grow into, to ask which part of a person is allowed to rule.
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This book has 1 recommendation
Ryan Holiday (Founder/Brass Check)
What a book. It’s not as good as What Makes Sammy Run but it’s so damn good. “A boy can be two, three, four potential people,” Duddy’s uncle tells him, “but a man is only one. He murders the others.” Which potential person will you be? Which part of you will you allow to rule? The part that betrays your friends, family, principles to achieve success? Or are there other priorities?
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