The Novel Cure: Literary prescriptions for indecision
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Ailment: Indecision
Cure: Indecision by Benjamin Kunkel
If you tie yourself up in knots whenever you're faced with two or more possible courses of action; if you tend to see everything from everyone else's point of view except your own; if you drive yourself and your friends crazy as you dither and deliberate, then you're suffering from the quintessential problem of our age: indecisiveness. Never before has there been more choice; and never before have we been more paralysed. To liberate yourself from this sorry state, we prescribe Benjamin Kunkel's Indecision, featuring a hero who has it even worse than you.
Dwight Wilmerding is a 28-year-old slacker who "can't think of the future 'til he's arrived there". Underemployed, and unsure about his girlfriend Vaneetha, he makes most of his decisions by flipping a coin. When the pharmaceutical company for which he works gives him the boot and a girl he once had a crush on, Natasha, invites him to Ecuador, he goes – for he's never happier than when decisions are taken out of his hands. And when another friend, Dan, offers him an experimental drug called Abulinix which promises to cure him of his indecision, he takes it. Only then is he told that Abulinix has some interesting side-effects, including satyrism (an excessive desire to copulate) and potentiating alcohol (meaning that one drink becomes two).
Whether it's the Abulinix that does it, or the psyche-altering drugs he also consumes, or indeed the beautiful and politicised Brigid, Dwight experiences a fundamental shift of consciousness while in Ecuador. Before he can pause to check his email (the immediate response of all those struck by an attack of indecisiveness), he's discovered a cause – and with it a set of beliefs. Suddenly, decisions become easy. Let this novel be your Abulinix. It'll show you how decisiveness looks, feels, and even a method of acquiring it – without any side-effects.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments