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The narrator here, who may or not be the author himself, is living a "painfully average" existence. Meanwhile, Alex, his best friend, believes in him. He knows he has the ability to open up and, in fact, achieve anything which he desires in life. Described by Croft as cool, mysterious, and handsome, Alex tends to party hard and live in the fast lane. However, this does not stop him from very much loving his best friend. Steeped in depression and anxiety, his friend is lost in persistent negative thinking patterns. This overwhelms his psyche, as he drags himself reluctantly through one day of utter banality to the next. "Life sucks," he believes, and it will never get any better.
At first glance, one might be inclined to think Croft's work is a self-help book regarding the transformation of oneself through Buddhist practice, and, certainly, that is partly true. However, unlike the rise of meditative mindfulness and the popularity today gaining momentum in America of embracing one's Buddhist nature as a means of therapy, or a methodology to slow down in chaotic and frightening times, the author takes a unique approach. He shares with readers a fine piece of literary fiction. He points to the moon, but the focus is not on the finger doing the pointing. One may take or leave any insight gained. Such is the openness of Buddhist philosophy. This book's relevance is timeless. Whether it is mass suffering on a global scale or in the life of the individual, some helpful insight is always welcome.