A little bit Mad Men meets Barbie for its hilarious yet biting social commentary in the setting of the marketing world.

Seth is wholly unlikeable with his egocentrism and self importance. I cringe when he shoves colleague Josie’s chair, attempting to startle her, in a way that any immature man seeking attention in the office would do. Seth believes he is the sun and is threatened by anything that he believes could dim his light. And he seems to be on an upward trend… until he’s not. And while unlikeable, he’s not unreadable. You want to watch how this dude gets in his own way and see the fall out.

The book was fast-paced, similar to a Bret Easton Ellis novel as the reader races along with the cognitively frenetic narrator. There are moments that are actually poetic, such as this passage:

Hey, can I get your eyes on this? Or Can I pick your brain? They’d only ever want my component parts—my eyes, my brain—as if they implicitly understood themselves unworthy of the whole.

This passage caught my attention also because the beginning could have been a description of how women are objectified for their components—but unlike this male protagonist, no one is saying they’re unworthy of the whole. With women, we simply snack our way through: be beautiful but don’t spend too much time doing it. Be smart but don’t appear like you know more than others. Be a good mom, but not if it prevents you from being a good employee or spouse. Be career focused but not if it prevents you from keeping a nice house, being a good wife and serving as an engaged and loving mother. 🫠

Overall, this was a fun and interesting read. Take some time to digest the themes and messages—perhaps while sipping an extra dirty martini and cannibalizing some baby gherkins.

This one was unfortunately not for me. While an unlikeable narrator can work, I didn't feel there was any growth or important arc for this one. There also wasn't much of a plot, and none of the characters were particularly interesting. The most frustrating thing for me was that the parts of the story about the character's religion felt very surface level, like they were thrown in there to exacerbate stereotypes about the Jewish faith without exploring with any depth, which didn't sit well with me.

This story is great for those who love watching people spiral

It was chaotic, witty and unlike anything I've read before. Seth is a junior copywriter in NYC and we see him use his singular accomplishment at his ad agency to feed his delusions and ego. His viral moment was fleeting and his aspirations for his future came crumbling down once he was let go.

His spiral takes him on a series of missteps that seem to get worse and worse until he's stolen his frenemy coworker's car, stalking his ex, avoiding his landlord, lying to his parents, somehow befriending a rabbi with a gambling addiction (if you've think you've hit rock bottom before, seth gives you a run for your money!)

I enjoy reading unlikeable characters and yes, I fear the men can't be saved!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Selling Pitch:
Do you want to read another white man creates his own problems and doesn’t get better book?

Pre-reading:
I know nothing, only pop art covers.

Thick of it:
Reminds me of the ads in Diary of an Oxygen Thief.

Kerning

It’s giving Diary of an Oxygen Thief and Patrick Bateman.

Like necrophilia, my dude.

Diaspora

It’s a little homoerotic to me, sir.

Hilonim

Paean

I bet he was actually just eating sprinkles. (Unconfirmed, but can confirm the book is much more ironically funny if you are delulu and also decide this is a fact.)

Pertinacious

Sabras

A Sam!

Calvarium

Hasidim

tefillin

mitzvah

Chabad

Hillel

yeshiva

mi sheberach

Shabbat

Oh, he is completely off his rocker.

I’m kind of bored.

tzadikim

Here’s the problem- I’m not Jewish, and I don’t know anything about it, so this bit of the book is rather unapproachable for me.

That’s not why I don’t have faith. I just think religion is fucking awful and a misogynistic cult and all variations on a theme. And I said unsubscribe.

Thank you, Barbie.

I disagree so much with this religious agenda.

Was he gonna shove a trophy up his ass? (Again unconfirmed, but it’s better if you do.)

Time to put the fun in funerals, and by fun I mean horny. (I hate that this always works.)

I’m bored. This book is just miserable people being miserable.

tzedakah

This is so gay LMAO

Post-reading:
I don’t think I understood this book. All the men in this book are unlikable. I don’t understand why the women in this book are involved with them. And it goes nowhere? The main character doesn’t redeem himself. He doesn’t grow as a person. He starts and ends exactly where he was at a dumb company. There’s very homoerotic undertones that also go nowhere. I just didn’t understand the point. It was miserable people being miserable.

And there’s nothing wrong with a miserable book. Look at my favorites list. I love an unlikable protagonist and an unreliable narrator. Seth didn’t do it for me. I didn’t understand the religious tangent this book went on. Maybe that’s because I’m not Jewish and I’m extremely anti-religion in general, or maybe it just had nothing cogent to say.

He was just a dweeby, self-important little man making his own problems. So then you think oh, the point of this book is that he’ll grow up and stop being such a dick. Except he doesn’t.

I think the writing itself is good. I just wish there was more of a point to the plot. It felt like we were circling the drain rather than going from point A to point B. I think it was trying to be he’s just Ken or Patrick Bateman but instead, it just felt like Jonah Hill’s text messages.

Who should read this:
Self-indulgent men?
Catcher in the Rye fans?
I genuinely don’t know.

Do I want to reread this:
No

Similar books:
* Diary of an Oxygen Thief by Anonymous-unlikable main character, unreliable narrator
* American Psycho by Brett Easton Ellis-unlikable main character, unreliable narrator, toxic masculinity social commentary
* Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
* And That is Why Men Are Terrible by Christopher Mertic Lewis-misogyny social commentary satire

Unhinged Summary:
Seth not Rogan (although this book is much funnier if you use him as your fancast) is the golden boy of his ad agency after he comes up with a viral ad for adult diapers. Probably. He’s put on a dud account for a non-profit prostate cancer group because he's just so talented that he can polish that turd. Probably. His new partner on the account is the fratty Robert Moon. Seth saves his picture as his desktop wallpaper so he can know his enemy. And the audience is like 👀 Stanzi Potenza would have a field day with these two.

But Seth is like totally straight, guys. He's been having an affair with his co-worker Josie. She's trying to get her boyfriend hired by the company so that she can get HR’s recruitment bonus incentive. And Seth’s like wow, I can't believe you would just use a guy like that. And Josie shrugs and is like I like money and dick. Why do you think I bother with you? And Seth’s like wow, you're such a kidder. So when Travis shows up for his interview, Seth pretends to be HR and asks him to come up with slogans for the prostate client. His are like totally amateur compared to Seth’s genius one-liners.

And Seth’s so dedicated to his work that he's never taken a day off. HR is like use it or lose it, bud. Take a vacation. So he decides to go to Israel on birthright even though he's not particularly religious. He meets a soldier who’s like totally obsessed and flirting with him. And she's like lol I'm a lesbian and I've been assigned to be your chaperone after you wrote a complaint email to the trip’s organizer, but go off.

When he gets back to New York, his company has laid off half the workforce. Seth is fired. And he's like mmm, that doesn't sound right. I produced an award-winning ad last year. My boss would never let me go. And HR is like lol, your boss is the one who jumped ship and took our highest billing clients forcing us to downsize. Seth is like sounds fake. But I'll just get a temporary job at Starbucks til you all come to your senses and rehire me. This company would be nothing without me!

He develops a crush on his barista co-worker, Ramya. She's an artist and a drug addict. (Sorry for being redundant.) The cancer group didn't like Seth’s slogan, but obviously, he can't let this go. He could totally prove his genius to them if he could just have another chance! He’s been banned from contacting the clients. They've blocked his number, so he uses his coworker’s phone to pitch them another slogan. Men saving men. Brilliant right? And the company is like lol no. Haven't you heard of women in STEM? Like we’re not employing them, but the optics you know? Stick to your day job, kid. Seth is crushed, but Ramya offers him pussy and drugs, so somehow he’ll manage. Seth is also the type of guy to buy oregano, so grain of salt and all that.

One day his bestie, Moon, comes into the shop and he invites Seth to his bachelor party. They go to the strip club and Seth tries to film Moon getting a lap dance from his penis’ POV because omg, that would be like so embarrassing, right? He waxes poetic about Moon’s chest hair. But Seth’s worship sours when Moon reveals that he's actually called off his wedding and has started dating Josie. Seth’s like wtf, that's my woman! And the audience is like I thought you had a different woman now? And Seth’s like you're right! So he shows up uninvited and incredibly drunk to Ramya’s house to pinch her. Her roomie punches him and kicks Seth out.

Ramya never shows up to work again. And Seth’s like wtf, all this? Over a pinch? Man, my power over women really is incredible. I better make sure she's okay! So he steals her emergency contact information, calls up her dad, and finds out that she's in a rehab facility in PA. Time for a road trip! He borrows Moon’s car, but when he gets to rehab they won't let him in because duh. Seth wanders aimlessly until a Jewish rabbi finds him and adopts him into his family. And the audience is like for why? And the author is like I dunno plot? Also a half-baked religious tangent. And the audience is like do we have to? And the author is like he's gonna babysit the rabbi’s sick son. See he's not a total sack of shit! And the audience is like he dared the kid to ding dong ditch rehab so he could try to break in instead of taking him to a baseball game. This is a terrible make-a-wish.

Seth is like you guys are right. I am terrible. Is this rock bottom? Maybe I should go see my parents to see if anyone still loves me.
His mom just had hip replacement surgery, and Seth totally forgot, but he's there now, and that's what matters. Son of the year! Where would she be without him? Moon shows up because he needs his car and like also, his dad died. Seth is like that's a bummer, but his fupa-that's fat upper penis area-do be looking snatched wearing my old pj bottoms. Seth’s moral compass can't allow his bestie to skip his dad’s funeral, so they road trip back to New York for it. At the funeral, Seth sneaks into Moon’s bedroom to rob him and may or may not try to shove Moon’s biggest sports trophy up his ass. And the audience is like no homo, right? And the author is like right! Josie finds Seth and is like let’s blow this popsicle stand. I could use your talent back at the office. And Seth is like omg, finally, someone recognizes my potential-where your clothes at? Josie’s like I said I needed your talent. Did you think I meant your brain? Omg, you're adorable. And Seth’s like huh, I feel used, but also I think I like it?

He decides to check on his apartment that he hasn't paid rent on in months. It's untouched. And the audience is like in NYC? In this market? But Moon’s broken in and found his diary when he was trying to track him down after he low-key stole his car. What's a little grand theft auto between friends, right? He left Seth a little love poem in his journal. Moon’s like thanks for taking this dick, babe. Xo Xo. And Seth’s like wow, what a funny joke. Look at the size of my humor boner! And the audience is like sure, Jan.

The totally just friends go back to PA to pick up Moon’s other car. Seth finds out his mom has cancer and that his parents have known he’s been unemployed this whole time but they wanted to let him tell them in his own time. He’s like I don’t know what to do with this unconditional support, so peace! C’mon Moon. Let’s go check on my friend the rabbi. The rabbi has run off to the casino because he’s a gambling addict. Seth decides he should repay his kindness by saving him from sin which will like totally save his marriage. Moon enables the Rabbi’s gambling because he’s on a hot streak. And Seth is like wtf you wanna go, bro? And Moon’s like don’t make me hurt you, bro. And Seth’s like what if I want you to hurt me, bro? And Moon’s like struggle for me more, bro. And the audience is like should we leave you two alone? And Seth’s like wtf? No this is a real fight, see! And he love bites Moon. And the audience facepalms.

But remember guys, they’re like totally straight. So they wind up at the ER so they can get fixed up and Moon offers Seth a job freelancing for him. The rabbi abandons his fam. And the audience is like literally what was the point? We just went in one big circle.

This satire started off inventive and wacky, taking shots at toxic masculinity and capitalism, but missed the mark on the ending. It didn't seem to achieve any sort of larger conclusion and became a store about male obsession.

I did not finish this title in advance of the publication day, but do intend to finish reading later down the line.

The main character found early success as a copywriter at his advertising agency, when a tagline he wrote surprisingly went viral. But he's been unable to follow up that success with any other clients and soon, and much to his own surprise, he's been let go from his agency. Reeling from the unexpected blow, he undertakes a winding journey -- featuring one of his former co-workers that he can't stand, a new job as a barista and a co-worker he finds an unlikely connection with, a rabbi several states away with his own struggles, and his parents -- that does not seem to get him any closer to clarity on what he wants from life.

Well written and featuring a strong voice, this was an incisive examination of modern workplaces, early adulthood, and the often self-imposed pressures people put on themselves.

Highly recommended!

I just don't think this book was for me. Being inside the head of Seth, the main character, was so uncomfortable that it took me months to finish this book. This is no criticism of Purkert's work or talent.

I've read some interviews with the author and found him to be bright and insightful, so I'll definitely look out for his work in the future, but this one didn't resonate with me.

Ben Purkert’s The Men Can’t Be Saved is a sharp satire of masculinity, faith, and the modern workplace. The main character, Seth Taranoff, is a consummate antihero: baselessly arrogant, narcissistic, unreliable, completely lacking in self-awareness. He works at a high-powered advertising firm, where he’s found some moderate success: his tagline for an adult diaper brand (“Everyday briefs for the everyday hero”) went viral and earned him an agency award. But he’s having a hard time following up on that accomplishment. Then, suddenly, his whole world falls apart around him: he gets fired from the ad agency and has to take a low-paying job at a local hipster coffee shop; his situationship, Josie, leaves him for a coworker, Moon, who’s more frat boy than executive; he loses his apartment when he can’t pay the rent. Rather than do some necessary introspection, Seth instead gets addicted to pills and becomes obsessed with Ramya, a troubled artist and his fellow barista. When she disappears into rehab, he tries to “rescue” her. In the process, he unintentionally befriends an Orthodox rabbi and starts studying Torah and Kaballah—finding himself surprisingly drawn to a faith he’d never really thought much about while growing up in it.
…
This book was a wild ride, but a pretty enjoyable one. Seth is a supremely unlikable character for most of the story; I kept finding myself saying, “Why are you doing that?” at some point in almost every chapter. Yet Purkert is an incisive and funny writer, and I was drawn through the book by his shrewd take on the 20-something male ego and the world of advertising. And even though I’m not usually someone who laughs while reading, Purkert’s writing also made me laugh out loud multiple times (including in the first two pages!); that’s when I knew I was going to like this one. Definitely worth checking out!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t really know what to expect going into this novel, but it was a great read given that I’d recently enjoyed both Sarah Rose Etter’s Ripe and the Barbie movie!

I often try to explain my current read to my husband, and I can’t remember the last time I read a novel with so much plot. This is an absolutely wild ride and so much fun to read! All of Seth’s work in the branding world was hilarious. The RazorBeat workplace was so on point. At no point could I predict where this book was going or how it would conclude.

Some moments were utterly glorious (standing naked in the rain as the Land Rover gets soaked because the window broke so he *checks notes* says fuck it and opens all the other windows and the sun roof?!). I just could not believe this novel, often.

As much as Seth is an overconfident, oblivious, pain in the ass, I still somehow wanted to root for him. I loved that he doesn’t have some perfect or clear transformation to being a ~better person.~ He’s a mess! He kind of starts to get his shit together, but it’s certainly not a clean or clear journey. Can’t wait to see what taglines he writes next for Moon!

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FYI, a review will also be going live on TikTok (here: https://www.tiktok.com/@evolution_of_emily) in the evening on 7/25.

This book was funny and very eye opening. I can't say that I liked any of the characters but that's the point. It really opens your eyes to how much we give our jobs and how little they give you.

My feelings are mixed. It's witty and is genuinely very clever, but something just didn't quite capture me. Between the laughs, this offers a really solid look at masculinity, the attention economy, and capitalism. This offers more than just a surface-level critique, but I feel it didn't delve in deep enough for my liking. That said -- this is a quick read! Purkert is both a good writer and deeply funny, and thoughtful in his social commentary.

I think, maybe, that this just isn’t my kind of book. I can see the allegorical underpinnings, the commentary on the working world and the pressures therein and yes, the stereotypical white male gaze. It’s well-written, I’ll give you that, and laugh out loud funny at times. But all in all this was not a book I was going to enjoy - I figured that out around the 50% mark and kept going because I kept reading all these reviews that were encouraging. And honestly, maybe it was just too much reality staring me in the face, the absurdity of it all, and that’s not what I like to read.

Witty and quick paced, this novel is a deep dive into the troubled psychy of Seth, a junior copywriter at a branding agency, whose goals and self-concept epitomize "modern masculinity" and capitalism. This is a quick and humorous read, where the reader isn't sure which character to cheer for and which to revile - perhaps alternating between the emotions as Seth's story asc continues.

I would say a 3.75, but I rounded it up to 4!

Overall, I enjoyed this book despite having some mixed feelings about it! The beginning felt a little slow for me, but I did enjoy the latter half much more. Ben Purket's writing was creative without being cliche or flowery. The characters gave me a real 'American Psycho' minus all the murder, vibe, which I really enjoyed too.
I will say, I didn't enjoy many of the characters in this book. I was torn between knowing that the intent was for them to be unlikeable and also feeling that some aspects of them were supposed to be charming or endearing. I like intentionally unlikeable narrators, but it's like he wasn't unlikable enough to know whether it was intentional that I didn't like him. hahahah

Sometimes I wonder if the men know that us non-men are talking about them. Ben Purkert’s witty novel The Men Can’t Be Saved, about a down-and-out copywriter with one good tagline, suggests yes, they do. Seth, the blustery, intoxicated ad-man wannabe, is fired from his job and suffers a crisis of identity, but never feels completely convinced any of it is really his fault (“Was I really so bad?”), still managing to devalue the women he encounters (of his mother: “What had she ever made except me?”) as he spirals into getting high on prescription drugs and attending Kabbalah. Seth might be a numpty with words, but Ben Purkert sure knows what he’s doing. One of many novels grappling with the alienating forces of the attention economy, it’s also a cathartic workplace read.

I was really excited for this book after seeing several Jewish authors talk about it on twitter, and overall, I wasn't disappointed! It deals a lot with toxic masculinity, possible drug abuse, capitalism and the hellhole that are corporate jobs, and also there's some Judaism.

Essentially, Seth is laid off after coming back from time off, and he begins to spiral out of control as he questions everything about his life and future. This involves being a barista, stalking a coworker, developing a possible pill dependency, befriending a Chabad family, stealing a car (sort of), and so much more. These are all used to create commentary on the topics I mentioned above. I really couldn't look away from all the toxic and dumb mistakes Seth makes- but that's kind of the beauty of the book, you just need to know what idiotic decision he will make next so you can't put it down.

I think in my head I had imagined that our protagonist had a deeper connection with an Orthodox rabbi, but we didn't even meet the Chabad family until over halfway through the book. As a Jewish reader, I was looking forward to that, but we do see threads of it throughout the whole book.

Overall, I did enjoy this one. If any of the above topics appeal to you, this is worth a read.